as we have gone through this hellacious year.. and approaching the next one.. i often find myself taking stock of my life.... i'm not old, but i'm not young either...and i have been tested hard a few times...there are no guarantees, but to live ones life to the fullest and to sweeten it up where you can.
where do i want to be spending most of my time? how do i want to use it?
one thing i know is that i dont want to spend time trying to elevate myself.... but elevating others..even a little goes a long way.. i love engaging in communities... I love my air b and b and the incredible guests, from all over the world.. I love my friends and family.... and i love exploring new places... and ritualistically returning to my favorites.. latin american , west indies, south west.. maine..Northern Cali.. etc...... and of course don't think i'd not include photography , that IS my heart, My Soul.. Photography sets me on fire when i get it right...my center...
i am editing 10 years of time spent shooting in Jamaica.. the place where i first fell in love with image making.. ..i owe a lot to to this place on so many levels... I remember most of the people i photographed.... spent time with them, even a small conversation or anecdote.. my short term memory is horrendous. but my long term memories from here are sharp and clear.. i have lots of stories
this girl standing at the fence in front of her home flailing her arms and screaming Nina...."come back".. i had just spent time with her, and her family. they wanted me to come in and see their home. the mom Corrine.. a single mother of three... shared a most intimate burden.. she was pregnant and could not raise another child... did i know of anyone that wanted to adopt... her house was leaking from the rain.. i could see the dirt beneath her floor boards... i helped as best i could with what was so glaringly apparent and took her number to send things from the states, especially for the kids.. all the things we take for granted here.. pencils notebooks, an education..... i tried to find her 5 years ago when i went back... but didn’t succeed...
so now as i wonder about my future.. i wonder now where she and her children are..are they in a better place... i feel a strong desire to find them.. but most importantly to go back to the island that fostered so much spirit, curiosity, generosity, and humanity in me.. i had it before, but it expanded ten fold in me..... my heart is large...... i feel lucky to have loved this island and so many people and to have them love me back
