The Ghost of Orchid Past

After my surgery ten months ago, friends gave me several orchid plants. This one bloomed until recently. I've taken this photo not only to commemorate its passing, but to commemorate the love that was shown by many friends when I was in pain and needed their support. I'm well now, and I still have the plants. Hopefully, they will bloom again. In the meantime, I'll miss this cheery (now dreary) reminder of friendship.

This morning I went to visit the newly renovated Oakland Museum of California and was looking forward to finding a few things there worthy of blips. I had only been inside an hour when the fire alarm sounded and everyone had to evacuate the building. I decided to leave and try it again another time--assuming the building survives.