the novitiate in narragansett

I lived there between July of '68 and August of '69 - my year in the desert. I was back about ten years ago, also in winter but that trip was quick. I didn't have a camera and wasn't interested in spending a lot of time. There were memories everywhere but I wanted to leave them alone, let them sleep under the snow.

This trip was quite different. Ryan was interested in going to Narragansett to see if it was a worthwhile week-end get-away. I was retruning to a long-ago time and a place and I could look for the ghosts; I could shoot the memories; I could remember. We began our tour in the cemetery and I photographed John Veale's grave-marker. He was the Director of Novices and one of the nicest and most reserved men I've ever known.

The last photo is of a small summer-house in Narragansett that had a windmill structure attached to it. I remember walking by it one night after Compline. The lonely road, the twilight sky, and the tall pines kissing an autumn moon.
(The thumbnail points to the large image.)