Southern Satisfaction

I ran off with my sister, Mother and Grandmother for a relaxing, yet re-affirming trip to Savannah a few weekends ago.
The whole trip started off with a long , slow ride up there. It was a sweet , blessing, where I found a part of my life that I missed- the idea of finding. We stopped in Yullee, a small down just above Jacksonville that had this amazing antique store. It was a palette of perfection- all of the vintage pieces were arranged by color and I found myself inspired by the juxtaposition of colors to forms to functionality. Within all of that though, there is this idea of life. I found a dresser full of old tin photographs which just mesmerized me. It made me think of the lives that past and especially of the one I was quickly sliding through. Yet at the same time, I found visions the future in a small , white baby dress from the 1950s, which I hope will adorn the back of one of my babies one day.
The rest of the weekend was a chance of re-discovery. I was consumed into southern culture, my culture. The idea of gentility , grace and hospitality. This was evident in the history of the buildings as well as the stories which ever so swiftly flowed from the mouth of my dear sweet grandmother. The whole weekend, I found myself consumed with the idea of past, present and future as it seemed to surround me. These thoughts forced me to deal with life and in returned turn my artistic eye into much more of a realist. Everytime I went to capture an image, I couldn't help but try to find the idea of balance, form, repetition- anything that makes sense. Anything that would help me make sense of me.Then , in the mix of it all I met miraculous people. The beauty of the south is that people are welcoming. They are careful, strong, proud and most of all welcoming. I felt at home in this small town as I met some of it's residents and heard their stories. The kind of stories that connect you to the other and make you feel a little bit more alive.

Life is full of goodness- simple goodness. The past , present and future is full of goodness. People are good.
This is what life is all about.

Heat, red and mangos

For the first time since I was a child time literaly seemed to stand still. I just returned from a 5 day trip to Nicaragua where I tried new foods, sat under mango trees, slept in hammocks, hugged children and road waves. I felt as if somehow I lost my blonde hair and white skin and slipped into another culture . That for a few days, I saw what it was like to live in another world with a different family and life. I found joy, simplicity, gratitude , love and my own thoughts. For most of the time, I was mute. I couldn't speak well enough for others to understand me and half of the time I couldn't understand others- so I was left to simply soak in the moments with my own mind. Clear and open to explore my own thoughts. It was refreshing to just be silent within the hussle of life.
Then I found communciating didn't need words but just sweet , simple smiles . This was a magical tool that allowed me to see into other's lives and capture images that I have always dreamed of. It also lead me to have a tickle fight with a 3 year old, to make muscles with some 7 year olds and make friends without words. Each person was just as vast as the landscape- from deserts to volcanos, to beaches and big cities- each region had a story , each person's eyes told a different hope.
Over that entire time, I found a new part of me ready to eat the world and to become the person who can savor moments without letting them pass me by. To realize, that I am incredibly blessed with opportunities that allow me to live my dreams .
Now its up to me.