Ms. W and New Orleans

I woke up today to find Minnesota winter at it’s most beautiful. Sure, I’m going to have to leave my office in a bit and drive my car, to which I’m sure, MN nice may not be within each person that’s out there driving in the expected 13 inches, but the snow that’s falling outside my window is remarkable; fluffy, white, huge clumps.

Yesterday was the Superbowl, to which, I did laundry, watched HBO’s movie on Temple Grandon and yes, I painted my nails. I checked my computer for emails periodically and felt nostalgic toward my 2008 trip to New Orleans. I started going through my images and thinking about the amazing people I met, wondering how they are today, if they are in new homes yet, if the children I met and played with are doing well in school, if the families that touched my spirit were in a better place now.

As I thought about the trip and my stay in Chalmette and Arabi, I came across Ms. W as I’ll call her. Ms. W came to her shoot and I felt her eyes told a story so deep, words were not even going to come close to the experiences she has gone through. She was my last session of the entire trip. She arrived with 2 of her grandsons, who I will say, ADORABLE! Their portrait session was being threatened by a thunderstorm rolling into town, almost a fitting end to my trip in a way. Ms. W spoke about her children and her many grandchildren during her shoot. She wanted to do everything over in this patch of clovers, which honestly, made my day! I’m quite certain Ms. W could have told me more than she had, but I’m sure it’s more painful than you or I can dream of to drum up those memories.

As I look at these images today, Ms. W with her grandsons, sitting in her clover patch, I have a continued drive to communicate the power of empathy as human beings, the power and desire to explore others, the presence of beautiful people in our world and the power of the soul to reach new realms of being. Ms. W has been on my mind all day and I hope she is in her new house from the St. Bernard Project. I am blessed for meeting Ms. W and her two sweetheart grandsons.

Happiness and Love to you all!