Rosa 'Sweet Juliet' top left and bottom right - top right Rosa 'Westerland' & below left Rosa 'A Shropshire Lad' 30 September 2024

In his introduction to Camera Lucida – Reflections on Photography, Roland Barthes writes:

One day, quite some time ago, I happened on a photograph of Napoleon’s youngest brother, Jerome, taken in 1852. And I realized then, with an amazement I have not been able to lessen since: “I am looking into the eyes that looked at the Emperor.” Sometimes I would mention this amazement, but since no one seemed to share it, nor even understand it (life consists of these little touches of solitude), I forgot about it. My interest in Photography took a more cultural turn.         

My interest in the Bonapartes has always been in Napoleon’s older brother Joseph.

During the Napoleonic Wars, Napoleon made Joseph King of Naples (1806–1808), and then King of Spain (1808–1813). After the fall of Napoleon, Joseph styled himself Comte de Survilliers and emigrated to the United States, where he settled near Bordentown, New Jersey, on an estate overlooking the Delaware River not far from Philadelphia.

Spaniards have a long lasting memory of Joseph. They say that as soon as Joseph was aware that Lord Wellington was on his way, he left in a hurry without saying goodbye.

To this day “despedirse a la francesa” (to leave without saying goodbye French style) many in Spanish speaking countries will quote it.

All the above is to justify my placing here today’s scan of three lovely roses, which in spite of being fall, have bloomed and to me they are saying goodbye until next year.

Few if anybody I know is aware that Joseph Bonaparte finished his days in New Jersey.

Mountain View Cemetery - 29 September 2024

Randy Rampage 31 December 2015

The Red Shawl: very mysterious classy item.like some neat,funky historical piece. I’d wear it for fuckin' sure !!!!

On December 3, 2015 Randy Rampage posed wearing my mother’s Mexican red shawl. His comment about wearing it (above) is short and sweet.

Today 29 September, 2024 I attended the sixth anniversary of his death (August 14, 2018) at Mountain View Cemetery. The memorial has always been arranged by his paramour Susanne Tabata. 

As life progresses attendance is reduced every year. Perhaps, as I believe, people are simply dying.

Going to this memorial makes me feel useful as I shoot (a tradition it seems) the group photograph. I bungled it this year by not sitting quickly enough after I pressed the self-timer.

I had the terrific luck of sitting next to my hero Art Bergmann who was given  Randy’s 12-string guitar to play. He sang, low key but I was able to hear nicely.

Art Bergmann

Before I left Susanne pointed in the direction of Jade Kent and told me, “Isn’t she a classical beauty?” I agreed and happily Jade posed for me when I was setting up my camera for the group shot.

Jade