"My Mentor, My Last Hurrah..." 'James "Kimo" Rosen' (Kimo's world #92)

James "Kimo" Rosen is a retired professional photographer
currenting residing on the Garden island of Kaua'i
with his best friend, Obama Da Dog...  ;-)
Photo above; Melinda Kontos, John "Ulysses" Kontos
and James "Kimo" RosenPhoto courtesy of Jason Gross

Kimo's world #92

My Mentor, My Last Hurrah

I recently returned home from a long overdue visit to my birth home of  Buffalo N.Y. I called this sojourn  'my last hurrah." I had not seen many family or friends in over 40 years.  Many were no longer with us, for those I visited cemeteries with my sister three different times.

During my visit  I wrote an opinion column that appeared in the Buffalo news about life coming full circle.  A few days after the letter appeared in the Buffalo news a voice from the past searched me out on Facebook.
http://www.buffalonews.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/letter-changes-in-buffalo-are-incredible-to-see-20150919

My life has shown me  a career as a professional photographer in Alaska. I graduated  one of the best photography schools in the country, 'Brooks Institute in California.' I published a magazine in Alaska for many years, all this in big part  to the person who was searching for me.

This person recognized me from my opinion piece in the Buffalo news, even though it was signed with my newly acquired Hawaiian name, 'James "Kimo" Rosen.

Jim Rosen's High school
graduation photo.
Rosen looked
much different
back in 1974...
However, Mr. Kontos
somehow looks the same!

You see back in the day everyone called me Jim or J.R. I am the one who should had been searching for this person to minimally say thanks for shaping my life, thanks for helping  me to a career that I loved. Thanks for believing in me when most others had written me off. Thanks for being there at the right time and place.

 I had a hard time in High school and  hung out with the wrong crowd. This  was the one person that gave me hope and confidence. He took an interest in my dreams and helped me find my way in this nebulous world. This person was my mentor and photography teacher at Kenmore East Senior High school in Kenmore N.Y. This person was and  is Mr. John Ulysses Kontos.

My mentor, John Ulysses Kontos
and myself...

After receiving the friend request I responded with a Big "WOW!" I actually had tears in my eyes. We started corresponding. I found that Mr.Konto's lovely wife Mel was actually the one I was responding with--since Mr. Kontos never took well to the digital world. He's still an old film, pen and paper guy. Thank God his lovely wife Melinda manages his Facebook page for him.

Many Facebook personal messages later they invited me over to their home. My nephew Jason acted as my chauffeur as Siri directed us to the Konto's residence from my new iphone.

We visited for well over two hours trying to make up for 41 years. They invited us to stay for pizza and salad, we had to decline since it was the start of the Jewish new year of Rosh Hashanah and my sister would had killed us if we didn't have an appetite for her world renowned brisket.

Melinda and John Kontos

I Have never had tears in my eyes from a Facebook friend request before.This was truly a chicken skin experience as we say in Hawaii, most call them call goosebumps.
I finally got to the shake hands and hug my mentor after 41 years, my looks have change drastically since 1974, however Mr. Kontos somehow still looks the same.

I ended the day taking many photos of this glorious reunion on my newly acquired phone, after showing the photos to Mr. Kontos, he responded "A+."

My photography teacher and mentor
John Kontos and  myself
in a selfie taken with an iphone camera.
It's amazing how far photography has come.
Who ever thought you would be able to
take photos with your telephone and transmit
them worldwide with a swipe of the finger.

Photos from my recent sojourn, 
This week will  center on The New England Patriots ~ Buffalo Bills on September 20,2015 from Ralph Wilson stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y. I got to see future hall of famer Tom Brady perform.
My team lost , final score 40-32, Pats.

Buffalo Bill's quarterback
Tyrod Taylor (#5)getting ready  to
make a big play! 

Future hall of fame quarterback Tom Brady (#12) had
another outstanding game. It was an honor
to see him play, even though I wanted the Bills
to win....

Bills fans are da best!

The camera man takes my photo as
 I take his photo, look below, I made
it on national T.V. What are the odds?

A Big Mahalo Nui Loa
(Thank you) to my old friend
Richard Fudeman for inviting me
to the Patriots `Bills game on
September 20,2015.

My Dear friend's Debra and Rick Comstock
were watching the game in Hawaii
and guess who they saw on national T.V?
That's me with leaning over with
the reddish-orange shirt and
white head band.
The Bills Loss 40~32

Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared from Facebook...

P.S.
Check out y first Youtube selfie video with my iphone of my dog 'Obama' trying to say I love you! 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rq2dmeGpZSY&feature=youtu.be