Saturday, December 27, 2008

When A Door Opens, Walk Through

I took one look at this astonishing photograph by a current member of Talking Plants (that's my Flickr group for the horticulturally-inclined) and saw in it all the power and moxie it takes to make that first giant step into the unknown.

And against the tide.

Hopwell Rocks at the Bay of Fundy is in New Brunswick, Canada; this view of Lovers Arch at low tide is from the body of b/w work by photographer Marcus Frank. Thank you Marcus for showing me how to walk the walk and strut through the door.

I'm sorry I can't thank many more of you by name for the overwhelming number of doors you've offered to open for me since I got laid off from NPR. We're talking folks wanting to redesign my website (you'll hear from me)...let me chill out at their homes (a teacher in the Grand Cayman and an old colleague in Oaxaca tie for best location)...take me skydiving in San Francisco (seriously considering it)...and join them in leading a spring botanical tour to Turkey. Here's one of a million reasons why:
And you know what? I'm seriously considering it after seeing some of the wildflower fields shot there by Iranian Flickr member Saital. I wouldn't have the money to take the trip but I could go free if I lead it and clearly I have the time. So I've promised to make a decision TODAY with the understanding that if any of you blog loyalists are jonesing to go botanizing in the wild with me, you get first dibs.

More to follow...
at 9:23 PM

12 comments:

  1. I'm glad doors are opening for you. I'm also glad you finally got this post up identifying the great picture. I thought it might be one of the sea stacks along the Northwest's coast.

    I think vegetable gardening is going to take off in a huge way this summer due to the economy that took your and my wife's jobs. I don't know if a door has been opened yet, but I'm sure a door is there somewhere.
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  2. Ketzel -- I've admired you for years on NPR, but came upon your new blog almost by accident. Your honesty and humanity about your situation was a revelation. You will be sorely missed on the radio, but I will follow your progress through this very hard time.

    I have never believed the stuff about lemons and lemonade ("No pain, no pain" always sounds better to me), but it is true that looking back on the road one had followed can be a remarkable experience.
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  3. It's so nice to see you here, Ketzel... I keep remembering a couple of posts that I had inquired about, and your response on one that NPR didn't feel that it was interesting/important/read enough for you to give us the promised followup. I look forward to reading you as your own editor now! :)
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  4. Good to see you on your own blog and kudos for being both honest and classy for the way you announced your being laid off a NPR. You have a "brand" Katzel and you will find a way no doubt to thrive doing what you do and getting paid for it but it will be come in a completely different way!

    Todd
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  5. Ketzel,
    I hope that there are MANY doors to choose from, and opening into new directions! I've enjoyed not only your NPR work, but your books, talks, etc. that I've run across -- enjoy your new freedom....

    Lisa
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  6. Hi, Ketzel,
    Hooray for you for finding and recognizing a host of great opportunities! NPR's loss is definitely your gain. May 2009 bring you wonderful new opportunities and loads of joy.
    Susan
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  7. Ketzel, you are a new discovery for me. I am happy to have learned about you. It was brave of you to use yourself as a last example of your series.

    As we move into a time when more folks find themselves uprooted, being rooted in oneself becomes even more critical. In my own case, I am beginning a position after 18 months of un and semi employment. I will try to never forget the lesson I learned: that joyfullness of following your ownself, until the road unrolls again; the pain of learning how to be when the world says "um, are you here, oh unemployed one"?

    My best, Deb Carey
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  8. My eyes are tired enough from too much Web browsing. I misread "Bay of Fundy" as "Bay of Funding," which would fit with the NPR layoff theme. Best wishes on your new endeavors, journalistic and botanical.
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  9. I am sorry to hear this. Great attitude! I wish you luck in the future and many open doors. Same situation, the lay off, with me. No doors yet but I'm working on it. You have a lot in common with a lot of people and we'll be following you.
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  10. Thanks for the kind words about my photo and I am happy to know you found a portal of inspiration in it. You are an amazing and creative storyteller. I have no doubt that many new opportunities that will make the most of your wonderful talents are coming your way.

    - Marcus
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  11. Finally got around to listening to your exit piece Ketzel and it was very graceful and still quite disconcerting even after having been aware of your moving on from the day it was announced on air.

    I hope you get to lead that trip to Turkey. You would be a great guide being both seeker and teacher.

    Turkey's not on my '09 horizon unfortunately but I'll be stopping by to see what door you choose to walk through. Good luck.

    Regarding your website, you might want to check out the comments format at www.americablog.com. It's something called Disqus and I think it's one of the more versatile that's out there.

    http://disqus.com/docs/about/
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  12. Thanks, Jay. Good to see you here. You too, Marcus. Puts a little warmth into what's turned out to be a cold, wet and altogether wretched New Year's Day.
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