Kimberly, age 33,  son Cody, age 3 at time of photograph, and stepfather Richard, age 68 at time of photograph

Intergenerational Description of Joint Project:

When my son Cody was healthy enough, I would often take him to visit his grandparents (my mother and stepfather).  They lived out in the country, surrounded by cornfields, old farm equipment, and horses – a magical place for any three-year-old.   I am not sure who enjoyed those visits the most, Cody or my stepfather.  It was their special time together - being outdoors, working around the farm, petting the horses.  Cody died a few years after this picture was taken, and my stepfather died a few years after his death.  This picture represents, to me, their special relationship - built around their love for the outdoors and each other.  

Celebration of Rachel Carson’s Sense of Wonder:

My stepfather was a deliberate, stern man.  However, it seemed as though the minute my son would climb onto his lap his normally hard exterior would instantly become soft.  Both Cody and my stepfather’s heart problems seem to become nonexistent during those visits, as they would forge outside to explore the countryside from the moment they woke up (which was usually as soon as the sun came up) until they would pass out early after dinner.  Cody was fascinated by the old farm equipment, the tall corn fields, and the horses that would follow them as they walked along the fence line. I watched my stepfather relive those experiences through Cody as though he, too, were experiencing them for the first time.