VPID 001

The swirl of children at play is all around you while you sit on the park bench just outside of Athens Square Park in Astoria. What marks you as a great photographic subject is your dog, also on the bench. A great golden retriever with his head in your lap. Clearly this great hulking animal lives in the belief that he is much the same size as the beagle that skitters to-and-fro playing with the children. The beagle is barking with excited yaps and yelps, and having the time of his life. Your dog is old, older even than you, and he hasn't the least interest in chasing kids or begging to have a ball thrown for him, but he does watch after the quick movements of the smaller dog with lazy eyed interest. Perhaps for a brief speck of time he considers joining in, but no, the effort would just be too much. For your part you rest your hand on his head, stroking it quietly as the sun beats down through the overhead leaves. This is a photo of peace after what must have been a long and difficult journey into the digital age.