I spent a number of hours this morning attempting to upload photos from the last few years - I finally had to admit defeat and send them to Aaron in hopes that he will have better luck…. Just a few words about the choices I made. The patios at our cabin on Dewey Lake and in La Quinta were the places we spent most of our "conversation" time together. Early in the winter season in the desert, we'd have our morning coffee on the east side of the house, enjoying the sunrise and solving the world's problems….. Typically, however, our living space was the courtyard patio. At Dewey Lake most days found us blessed with just enough breeze to keep the bugs away, while enjoying the lake view from the patio with friends and family. Although Michael claimed he'd had more than enough fun with landscaping - it was one of his first jobs, and he did not love it - he was enthusiastic about my efforts to add new elements to the outdoor environments of both places. In the past couple of years it was increasingly difficult for him to get out and enjoy the outdoors, so he would have me take pictures of sunrises or snowscapes - whatever I happened to be raving about at the moment - so he could share in their beauty, delight, or just plain weirdness. Every 4th of July members of my family gather at the cabin built by my grandfather, father and uncle on Big Lake, near Bemidji, MN. This reunion became very important to Michael in the last few years, so I included shots from recent gatherings. Michael adored his years in Chicago, making the most of living on the lakefront, just beyond The Loop. If asked, he'd claim to be "a city boy", but as his years drew too rapidly to a close he seemed to find both peace and delight in the beauty and serenity of the natural world - whether in the desert, or the north woods. Bobbie