June 08-07

Past-E-Mail: Cam Notes - 2007: June: June 08-07
A Monarch remembered    ...scroll down to share comments
Photo by Dan Urbanski


By
Charlie at Pasty Central (Chopper) on Friday, June 8, 2007 - 07:05 am:

As we walked across town here in Eagle River yesterday, there were suddenly butterflies all around us, like a chorus of angels. Maybe this spring I've just been too busy to pause and enjoy the natural beauty as we normally do, and sometimes I take it for granted. In that moment surrounded by fluttering wings, it reminded me of a picture, somewhere back in the Pasty Cam Archives half a decade ago, and one of the best observers of nature whom I ever had the priviledge of knowing:

Today I tried my hand at photographing butterflies, a process that usually requires more patience than I think I possess. Sneaking up on them didn't work, so I planted myself in the middle of my wife Patty's garden and waited for the butterflies to come to me. It worked, and here is the last and best shot I got.

I'm glad to see that the Monarchs have returned in good number following a massive die off last winter in their winter location in Mexico. Fascinating too, to watch them up close and note how very long are their probosci for collecting nectar.

Dan Urbanski
I miss the frequent emails I would receive from Dan many mornings, before his passing in 2004. This week with Mary Drew away, it's the first time in quite awhile I've flown solo on the Pasty Cam. There's a lot of work that goes into selecting and preparing pictures and comments each day, which I've also taken for granted sometimes. Countless hours have gone into your contributions to the Guest Gallery. This daily glimpse of life from the U.P. over the years has continued only because of being surrounded by so many friends. Thanks to all who have become a part of it.
By
Deb S. (Usedtobeayooper) on Friday, June 8, 2007 - 07:07 am:

They are so gorgeous! Great shot Dan!

Will Mary be back next week? I hope all's well with her mom and Kevin.


By Margaret, Amarillo TX (Margaret) on Friday, June 8, 2007 - 07:21 am:

Miss good ole Dan. His pictures were the greatest.


By Brooke (Lovethekeweenaw) on Friday, June 8, 2007 - 07:56 am:

He did good on that one.


By Joan C. Wilson (Joan) on Friday, June 8, 2007 - 08:26 am:

I knew that picture looked familiar! Dan was extremely great at his work...we sure miss him!


By Marianne Y (Marianne) on Friday, June 8, 2007 - 08:33 am:

That is a gorgeous picture! I love butterflies!

Thank you, Charlie and Mary for all of your hard work for us! Thank you to all of the Pasty photographers!

How is Mary's mom doing? I hope that Mary's mom & Kevin continue on their roads to full recoveries!


By Ray Laakaniemi (Rlaakan) on Friday, June 8, 2007 - 08:56 am:

Dan did a multi-projector show at the high school auditorium one summer when I was home in Iron River. Great show, great guy, very much missed.


By Cindy Pihlaja Russell (Gone2long) on Friday, June 8, 2007 - 09:09 am:

Dan Urbanski...the good die young. I, on the other hand, will be around for a long time to come.


By Michael Du Long (Mikie) on Friday, June 8, 2007 - 09:29 am:

Cindy, I guess I know what I am, since I am old now. Should have died when I was young instead of ancient. The bad part of it all is I prefer the fact that I grew old. Lost my looks, my boyish figure, and a lot of my hair but here I am mean, nasty, and they are still feeding me and claim to still need me. Can't get that song out of my mind probably the only Beetle song I know.


By Catherine Ristola--Holland MI (Catherine) on Friday, June 8, 2007 - 09:36 am:

I wan an exchange student in the 80s and Dan graciously allowed me to take a bunch of his slides to show Ontonagon and areas to my host country. They all oohed and aahed over his shots and wondered how I could have left such a beautiful spot.


By Catherine Ristola--Holland MI (Catherine) on Friday, June 8, 2007 - 09:38 am:

Thanks to the Ontonagon Rotary Club for a great experience!


By Bob Williams (Wabbit) on Friday, June 8, 2007 - 11:13 am:

I recall a video about Copper Mining that had a section with Dan taking you through the Mine sites in the Porkies! I think this was on a weekly program called "Northern Exposures" (Not the series that took place in Alaska. I think the series is now called "Great Get Aways". On PBS in Michigan


By Marsha, Genesee/Aura (Marsha) on Friday, June 8, 2007 - 01:00 pm:

The show was Northern Experience and the website is northernexperience.com. They probably still have their videos for sale on that site.


By George L. (Yooperinct) on Friday, June 8, 2007 - 01:55 pm:

Gorgeous photo.....Dan was a genuinely gifted photographer.


By kay Moore (Mskatie) on Friday, June 8, 2007 - 01:58 pm:

I'm so glad to have been on pasty.com while Dan was around to give us such wonderful photos. His life and talent to find those special experiences for us are still around. I'm sure he still is finding the Lord's treasures from a new perspective.


By Happy to be in the U.P. (Lahelo) on Friday, June 8, 2007 - 04:36 pm:

Marianne Y (Marianne),
I got an email from Mary the other day and she said her mother is doing better. They are suppose to be coming home this weekend. They are going to take 2 days to get home. She thanked everyone for the prayers and the get wells for her Mother and her nephew Kevin.


By Marianne Y (Marianne) on Friday, June 8, 2007 - 06:22 pm:

Dan was a gifted photographer! I do love this picture.

Thank you for the update on Mary's mom, Lahelo! I think making the trip home over two days is a very wise decision. Ann Arbor to Lake Linden is a very long way indeed, especially for someone who has been through as much as her mom has, with her long surgeries, etc. Did she say how Kevin is doing?


By kosk in Toronto (Koskintoronto) on Friday, June 8, 2007 - 07:37 pm:

No, Charlie. Thank you! And thank you for putting one of Dan's
beautiful pictures on today's CamNotes. Dan is, and will continue
to be missed. The butterfly is especially nice. A reminder of the
resurrection.

Glad to hear that Mary and her mom will be wending their way
home.


By Fran in GA (Francesinga) on Friday, June 8, 2007 - 09:32 pm:

I almost always can tell one of Dan's photo's. We were fortunate to have him as long as we did. He was very good! Fran


By Happy to be in the U.P. (Lahelo) on Friday, June 8, 2007 - 10:53 pm:

Marianne, Kevin is getting along as far as I know.


By Ken ja Mimi from da UP (Kenjamimi) on Saturday, June 9, 2007 - 12:05 am:

Amen to kosk in Toronto's thought. Thank YOU, Charlie, Mary, et al. Kiitos, kiitos!


By Thomas Baird (Thomas) on Thursday, October 2, 2008 - 08:29 pm:

A beautiful butterfly pic. I love butterflies.


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