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Floating past


 Adrift by John Cassidy

When asked why I take photographs my reply is always the same. "To remind myself how fantastic the world is when I pluck up the courage to step outside my door." I'm always amazed at what I discover. I took this photo on a spur of the moment trip into town with a friend, on the rare warm, sunny day that gifts Manchester the same way a blue moon does. I always have my eyes open for sculptures and art, (since landmarks are still the way I navigate when Google maps and I don't see eye to eye) fully aware that most Mancs pass them every day without a second glance but for me, I'm seeing it all for the very first time behind two sets of screens (my glasses and my phone). 
Strolling past St. Peter's Square and I had no idea the sculpture was here (and has been since 2009 after being moved to different locations, then put into storage), and a part of me loves how it's hidden away but the sunlight has captured some of the emotion that the sculpture emits.  

To me, in this time, when we all feel lost, hopeless, adrift and without a clue as to what to do or where to go, we tend to hold on to each other with one hand while grasping for some semblance of hope with the other. A form of hope that's beyond reason or sight, while continuing to trudge through the storm of unpredictably that is every day. Some days we can weather the storms, some days we are overwhelmed. I think about my friends, in the same boat, grateful for the hands that reach out to help us while sometimes scared when we feel like we're all doing it on our own. 
Moments and conversations that you never plan for that just end up happening. 

When I look at this picture it reminds me that patience, strength, courage and endurance are embodied in every single one of us despite the the fact that the winds of misfortune, disease, loss or poverty may have swept us overboard at some point. 
Although you can't see it in this picture, to the left of the central figure is his daughter, who's arm he is holding, to the left of him, his wife is leaning over and kissing their infant son, and behind him is their eldest son, and the hopeful romantic in me wonders if he'd have the strength to keep hoping if his family wasn't there? It adds another dimension to my perspective of the sculpture. Love give us hope, and family give us strength.
 I highly recommend that you either google the entire sculpture of visit it yourself because my picture doesn't quite do it justice.



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