Christine Dean, “Shuffleboard”

Last year my folks moved into senior housing. While it must have been traumatic to leave a home of 45 years, to abandon treasures from a lifetime of travels, and to part with thousands of photographs, they’ve created a miniature version of the life they knew, and found friends who were similarly diminished — but not lain low.

I’ve stayed with my parents over several recent visits, and sure the high rise smells “medicinal,” but I feel lucky to have glimpsed the many ways that older people retain their dignities, and I have seen the joy in merely being that so many express while meeting in the dining rooms, or smilingly passing each other in elevators.

I realize this isn’t everyone’s experience of aging, or loss, so in gratitude for the elemental, next week’s theme will be “Simple.” Send your unwatermarked, signature-less images by Wednesday at 11:59 p.m to tim @ perfectduluthday.com — 1000px at their largest dimension — along with title (if any), and URL of your website, Facebook page, Tumblr, Flickr stream, or Instagram.

Bryan French, “If Oberstar can ride…”

Sharon Mollerus,
untitled

Paul Lundgren, “Fingerprints”

Paul Lundgren, “Lind Family Home”

Tim White, “Louise and Bud”

Tim White, “Rog and Inez”

Brian Barber, “Press Conference”

Brian Barber, “Terry”

Aaron Reichow, untitled

Aaron Reichow, untitled