Rosa 'Sombreul' 3 September 2025

 

Rosemary and I met on December 15, 1967. We were married 55 days later on February 8, 1968.

I remember that we went to the fashionable Zona Rosa to a store that sold Mexican style dresses. I picked a white one that had blue birds. Because I was reasonably good with a needle and thread I immediately converted the dress into a mini-dress. I wanted to show off Rosemary’s exquisite legs.

We attempted to get married at least two weeks before that February 8 but we were told that since she was Canadian and I was a Mexican immigrant I needed some sort of permission. Finally I found a good judge in the fashionable district of Coyoacán and I gave him a bottle of expensive cognac. That worked.

Now 57 years later I reminisce sadly as the two framed pictures seen here are in my constant view.

I have written before here that combining some plant or event with a memory of Rosemary, reinforced by a photograph of her, somehow helps me a bit. I feel that I am doing something useful to my mind in trying to comprehend the non-existence of my dear wife.

Rosa ‘Sombreul’ was in bloom today so I cooked up these two scans.

I am unable to convince any of my photographic peers the usefulness and beauty of using my scanner as a tabletop camera.

These two scans took me about 40 minutes to do as I had to remove minute bits of dust. The second scan of just Rosemary is darkish and the white rose is very bright. My 22-year-old Photoshop 8 always assists me in balancing that contrast problem.

Time has passed by and I can now go into my kitchen and make myself a cup of strong tea.