Daily Archives: October 9, 2006

BAGA!

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Have you heard of those people who have lived in New York City for a long time but never visited the Statue of Liberty or other landmarks? There are a lot of them, and I’m pretty sure that there are millions of local equivalents anywhere you go. In Bismarck-Mandan, I happen to be one of those people. While I’d like to think that I have been a LOT of the Bismarck-Mandan area’s lesser known places, there are many commonly known places where I’ve never been. That’s going to change.

One of my reasons for starting this blog, other than a place to park my photography and flex my writing skills a bit, was to kick myself in the rear and get out to visit things in the area I should have seen long ago. By visiting these people, places, and events and telling you about them with pictures to boot, I hope that everybody benefits. So far I’ve had a blast and learned a lot. Hopefully you do too!

BAGA, the Bismarck Art and Gallery Association, is one place I had never visited. Today I rectified that as I went in and purchased an artist’s membership and wandered around the gallery. There’s some really cool work in there! I highly suggest you check it out. This photo shows one part of the gallery, but by no means all of it. I plan to have a little display of some of my photography when the opportunity presents itself.

Are you feeling artistic? An artists’ membership is only $25. If you’re a fan of art, take the time to visit and see for yourself what local artists are doing. You can purchase certain works if you so desire. BAGA is a neat part of our community, and I think we should all pay them an occasional visit.

In loving memory…

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This memorial hangs atop a gravesite at the pet cemetery east of Bismarck, on the grounds of the McDowell Dam recreation area. There are two large sections of the pet cemetery there…many with the standard concrete grave marker, others with hand made memorials such as this one, and some with both.

I’ll admit it…I was out there to inquire about a place for Scooter some day. Alas, they are no longer taking in any more critters…the place is full. So if you’d like to have a memorial for the special furry, finned, or feathered friend in your life, you’ll have to find other options. I don’t know the details on the cemetery next to Pioneer Park, but that’s another possible option.

Obviously the Bible doesn’t indicate that animals even have an afterlife, but let’s face it…we have funerals and memorials and markers for the living. For many people, their relationship with their pet is as deep and meaningful as their relationships with most people. While I’m blessed to say I’ve got friends as true as any guy could ask, I also have a bird that has been faithfully by my side for almost nine years. In fact, his birthday (hatch day?) is coming up in exactly one week. So while I have no other reason than for my own closure, I’ll likely have a memorial to him somewhere to remember all the good times and friendship. Hopefully God gives our family several more years with Scooter, but the awful fact is that we won’t always have him. Then he’ll be remembered in a memorial like this one.