A rewarding cause to be involved with

As a photographer and a native Californian I cherish the beauty and joy of our state parks. It is unfortunate for the generations to come that they are facing the closure of such local treasures. Many of the state parks were gifts to be enjoyed, used and forever passed on from generation to generation. The states budget crisis and acts of legislation are threatening our beautiful treasures. This is a wonderful and personal way to become involved in the movement to help keep our state parks open for future generations. Please participate and pass it along to ensure that we get strong support from personal voices on what it means to protect the legacy of our state parks.

http://www.calparks.org/takeaction/im-saving-state-parks-for.html


It is a project that is close to my heart because of what the state parks mean personally to my family. We all convene yearly at McArthur Burney Falls state park for two weeks. It is the most amazing cleansing from the hustle and bustle of our daily lives. It allows us to connect on a more intimate level as family. We have taken our son since he was 8 months old. He gets a break from T.V., and in exchange gets focused one on one time with us. He hugs trees, hunts bugs, gains confidence and gets deeply rooted in what it means to be a Family. No distractions, just us and the natural beautiful landscape of the park. This particular state park was a gift, and what a glorious gift to California it is.

This is also the park where on one of these wonderful trips, my ailing father in law got the chance to flourish in a setting he loved, and to some degree forget that his body was being ravished by Cancer. He was able to do the things he loved, with the people he loved. He breathed the clean pine scented air, and dipped his rod in the cool stream. He gained back his appetite and energy, he watched his grandchildren growing to love the outdoors as he did, and he spent time with his family. Time that was borrowed, and time that was precious. Time that was not interrupted and time that was made possible because of McArthur Burney Falls state park existing. I am hoping that the parks system is able to stay open and that our son is able to go back year after year and remember the connections to family that he made and be the man that growing up in nature will help him to become. Thank you, and please get involved!

In loving memory of Lawrence J. Manzano Sr.