This was one of a set of photos taken in 2004 by the late Gerald Perkins at Alum Rock Park in San Jose. The object was to produce a portrait suitable for printing and framing as a Christmas gift for my mother—and for her mother, who at the time was suffering from terminal cancer. Since I live and work several hundred miles away, making it impossible to be around, I felt that having a picture was better than nothing. I wanted a picture of professional caliber, and Gerald delivered, bless his heart. Of course, he was a semipro photographer, and he understood the essential secret of getting a good photo: keep clicking away until you have a nice wide variety from which to choose. This image was the final choice, and two prints were duly printed, matted, framed, and gift-wrapped.