After the storm. Before the Deluge.
MaineWorks employee.
MaineWorks employee. Showing up. Learning about himself. Speaking up. Asking questions. Offering us his smile. His humor. Keep going. Keep going.
When I encountered this parade performer in Oaxaca, Mexico...
When I encountered this parade performer in Oaxaca, Mexico two years ago I was riveted. As if every deeply gaurded secret of humans was revealed, as if every dark impulse was given a life. Our frightening shadows brought center stage.....safely. With aluminum foil daggers and red tempera blood. With grotesque masks that revealed warm, smiling eyes inviting me to photograph. And it felt so safe and right to hold both. Because life includes this shadow and rather it be given prime time in a street fiesta then suppressed until it grows into explosive behaviors.
Targeting a welders yard for a treasure.
Targeting a welders yard for a treasure.
I quietly left socks and a coffee card, from you, Dear Anonymous.
Dear Anonymus,
I quietly left socks and a coffee card, from you, Dear Anonymous.
Said 'Good morning.' quietly.
He lifts his head. Disheveled from sleep and asks,
'You from the VA?'
'No. I am not.' But I ask,
'Need a sleeping bag?'
He brightens. It's a yes.
I find a heavy, water resistant and thermal Carhartt sweatshirt, too. I offer him coffee cake.
He smiles just a tiny bit.
And there is a tale of someone handing out mummy sleeping bags from his pick up truck last night. Thank you, sir.
Semper fi.
Thank you, Dear Anonymous.
He is in line for a bed in detox at Milestone.
Dear Anonymous,
He is in line for a bed in detox at Milestone. He has tried to stop drinking. He is trying, he tells me. He has been able to hold back, but detox from alcohol carries risk, so it seems entirely perilous to me. He, however, seems willfully on board with his effort. All I can think is 'Gorilla on his back.'
He struggles.
Says 'I'm leaving. Going to Florida. Can't do this winter no more.' He's got his plan for a bus ticket and wants to detox before he heads out.
I ask to photograph, he often does not want to be involved. Today he agrees and I let him know how much I'll miss him out here.
He smiles that warm, spirited, twinkly eye smile and responds 'I'll be back.'
I thought I might be having a hard day. And then I wasn't.
I thought I might be having a hard day. And then I wasn't.
The waves were capping white and frothy...
The waves were capping white and frothy, the lines from her hull snaking out into the reach of that gale and all we could see was her mast rising from the gully of that terrifying sea.
The way the light held you with sway.
The way the light held you with sway.
Something about a crow and a black moon. A horizon seen from a marshland, seagrass on fire.
Something about a crow and a black moon. A horizon seen from a marshland, seagrass on fire.
The wounded hulls. Sidelined. Watching winter approach.
The wounded hulls. Sidelined. Watching winter approach.
Topped off and Trapped
Topped off and Trapped
She's gone.
She's gone. The Fish Dump Goddess is gone.
Perhaps it will be easier together.
Dear Anonymous,
Perhaps it will be easier together.
Thank you Dear Anonymous, for donations of sleeping bags, shirts, and more back packs.
In this way, this IS easier together. Thank you.
Before. Before we were told we were wrong.
Before. Before we were told we were wrong.
He places his shoes to the side. Lined up. Organized.
Dear Anonymous,
He places his shoes to the side. Lined up. Organized. The way some people place their slippers beside their bed.
New socks, a coffee card and a piece of coffee cake left close by those shoes.
Two shoes. LIned up. Just so. On the bricks.
I try not to disturb him.
I read 'Delivery times may vary based on location.'
The irony.
A short walk from my door.
A short walk from my door. The door I get to walk through. I have a door. I have a door to walk through. This all strikes me this morning.
Folks were clear headed this morning.
Dear Anonymous,
Folks were clear headed this morning. Specific with what they may need. Some of them apologize for their rude behavior yesterday. Seems one of the regulars on the street seems to be getting under folks skin lately. Nerves are raw. Frustration high. Resiliency a rare commodity.On the best of days. Still they speak about him and others with care. They nod toward a woman sitting a bit away from us. They say she's sleeping on the streets.
They bring her over and she is hesitant to take too much. First of all because she has to carry it. Secondly because she only wants to take her share. Damn, she is young.
She walks away with a new backpack she has chosen and a warm wool blanket (thank you Dear Anonymous), a beautiful hand knit sweater and a vest. Some socks, which she was worried about this morning. A coffee card and a piece of coffee cake. Her face glows in the light from the storefronts.
I see her but honest I see me, my daughters, my friends daughters and our granddaughters.
She is grateful and thanks you all, Dear Anonymous. I have no heart to lift my camera to her face in that moment but around the corner is a couple of people wrapped in a pink fleece. Tucked into a storefront. The view from the coffee shop.They will wake to socks, and coffee cake. And a view of people sitting having coffee.
Originally called Kaskok.
Originally called Kaskok.
Some days I am fortunate enough to run into this icon of the Working Waterfront.
Somedays I am fortunate enough to run into this icon of the Working Waterfront. And I will be filled with stories. And well fed on yarns and tales of lobstering and life in Casco Bay.
I will learn of nuances of lobster trap building and its craft and its' design specificity and it's downright customize-ability. Who knew.