Be the Outlier

My mom and dad Beijing, China 2004.

I took this image in 2004 in Beijing, China. It took place in the forbidden city where this platform with 2 chairs was set up, and you could wear Chinese silk robes and sit on a throne and imagine what it would be like to be an emperor and empress. There was no line, and no one showed any interest. I convinced my parents they should do it and since my dad had a great sense of humor, he was game. My dad chuckled as he put on the robe and headpiece, and helped my mom into her seat.Then slowly people began to notice, and a line began to form. It grew longer as the man managing the setup was scrambling to manage the growing crowd. I become emotional reflecting back on this memory, as it was a trip that we took to China as a family, and it was a wonderful time. Good food, adventures, and wonderful memories. Both my parents have passed, my mom just recently.

After losing our loved ones, all we have are the photographs and memories that remind us of the stories we’ve shared throughout our lives together. Snapshots that live on our mobile devices lack the agency, significance, dimension, and historical significance that formal portraits possess. They are timeless reminders we carry with us throughout our lives - memorials of the bonds we’ve created, and the times we’ve shared never to be recaptured. With loss comes the steadfast need to hold onto the essence of that person - something tangible when the corporeal of all things is no longer with us.

As my journey in life continues, what I value most has become increasingly apparent. To live in an environment where the things that surround me have constitution. Mementos. Art on the wall. That are continual reminders of the most precious moments in life.