My community of Taylor held a candlelight vigil for George Floyd tonight at Heritage Square Park.  Complete silence was observed for the 8 minutes and 46 seconds was held under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer on Memorial Day.   Floyd was buried today in Houston, the town where he was raised. The vigil concluded with the singing of “Amazing Grace.”

These aren’t those huge sunflowers you might see in various posts.  They’re the wild ones we see sprouting up around fields in East Williamson County, Texas.  This field, near Hutto, got my attention on a recent evening.   Just some explorations.

This afternoon I was back in Georgetown, documenting a low-key prayer service speaking out against police violence against African Americans.   On Saturday, I photographed a Black Lives Matter demonstration here, also a quiet and respectful scene, but with many more attendees.    Today’s gathering was probably 150-200 people.   These are some scenes from this hot afternoon.

This afternoon I photographed a gathering of 350-400 participants at a Georgetown demonstration calling attention to the need for reform in how African Americans are treated in the United States.   It was a hot and humid day, temperatures climbing to the upper 90s.    While the problem of fair and just treatment  has existed for a very long time, the impetus for worldwide protests was brought to the forefront by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.   Floyd was raised in Houston.   The three-hour demonstration was peaceful, unlike many we’ve seen around the country.   And more people than not were wearing face masks.   On social media, I’ve expressed concern about large numbers gathering in the midst of a pandemic.   I still have those concerns, but feel good about the last image, a granddaughter holding the hand of her overheated grandmama.   This gives me hope that we can get things right. 

This photo is by no means perfect.  There’s a blaring red light on a water tower in the distance.   There’s power lines. too.    As many know, I don’t remove actual things with Photoshop.  That’s Immanuel Lutheran Church tonight, a full moon, a Strawberry Moon, shining above.  

For tonight’s full moon, I drove a little east, to the community of Thrall, Texas. In 2018, the community’s population was 953.  By now, I’m guessing it’s over a thousand.   The first photo is an old barn I’ve passed a few times, resting close to train tracks.   The second image is a wonderful football field, home of the Thrall High School Tigers.  It’s the quintessential small-town Texas field.   When I got there, I thought I’d have to take my photos through a fence, but a lady walking on the track showed me the way in.  As she walked by, she commented on the field.   “They just mowed it last night.”   Even if the ongoing pandemic affects next season, the field will always look good.  It’s the way we do things here.

It’s been a vexing day, something I won’t go into here.  Needless to say, I needed to find something calming to photograph.   That notion led me to New Sweden Evangelical Lutheran Church, a little north of Manor, Texas.  The horseback riders, and an almost full moon were nice bonuses.  

More observations from Taylor’s rookery at Murphy Park tonight, friends.  These images were made during three visits there in May.  I begin with a photo made on a very stormy night, so much so that even a poncho and large umbrella wasn’t much help in keeping the cameras dry.   The rest are just impressions while sitting on the bank, keeping ants at bay, with an occasional passing snake.   So far, we give each other the space we need. 

A couple are close to Granger, Texas.  One is along Alligator Road, in Bell County. I find the name of that Bell County road interesting.  This is not alligator country, is it?     Just some prairie scenes tonight, friends.

Last night, a hot and humid evening,  I attended commencement for approximately 400  East View High School seniors at the school district’s Birkelbach Field in Georgetown.   The graduates were seated well apart, many of them wearing face masks.   Each senior was limited to inviting five family members or friends.   Even though the academic year was cut short, this tradition, though different, remained intact.  Whenever attending events like this, I keep an eye out for something special.   Last night it was  a graduate named Jazmine.   Earlier this year, she told me, an auto accident left her with limited mobility.  She arrived to her seat with the aid of a walker, but wanted to make the walk to receive her diploma.   There to help with that were a Georgetown police officer, Richie, and an East View teacher, Leah.   We’ve seen quite a lot recently about cops doing awful things.   And some of them do.  But then there’s guys like Richie.   Remember that before painting others with broad brushes.   Congratulations to the class of 2020, wherever you are.