Cliché, but this too is life

I had to be on the campus of the University of Western Ontario (UWO) yesterday. It brought back such memories, and I didn't even go to the "U". It seems some things really don't change — a few hundred miles of distance plus a few decades — and still I felt at home. Amazing! I showed these pictures to my wife; she said, "They're O.K. pictures, but they're so cliché."

At first, I was disappointed. Then I realized she was right and that that was the strength of these shots. — not posed, the scenes not tampered with in any way.

A young man strums his guitar, quietly singing, accompanied by a friend on an African-style drum. Two girls listen, one distracted by her notebook computer. (O.K. No one was ever distracted by their notebook computer when I went to school.)

I included the top picture to appease my wife. The shot is cliché but it still has a hint of art. The following picture is the one I like. Can't you just feel the warmth of the weakening summer sun?

UWO Shinerama (Terry Fox Run Pics Mon.)

Give this fundraiser a thumbs up as the University of Western Ontario (UWO) is number one. Yes, London's UWO, with the largest orientation week in Canada, runs one of Canada's most successful Shinerama campaigns. The UWO and Sir Wilfrid Laurier University typically battle for for first place in the annual campaign with Carleton University in Ottawa taking the third position. Since joining the Shinerama initiative in 1968, Western has raised over $2,000,000, the most of any university.

This weekend London was swarmed by a huge horde of young people on the prowl raising money to fight cystic fibrosis. These three canvased my street and posed for a picture in return for a donation.

Shinerama is Canada`s largest post-secondary school fundraiser with more than 25,000 college and university students at more than 60 campuses across Canada participating. Since 1964, students have raised more than $13.1 million!