Man about town, Mallahan visits Mennonite homeless housing project
If there was only one thing that I could praise Joe Mallahan for, it would be his irrepressible ability to actually listen to what Seattleites have to say and his genuine ability to praise them for their good deeds. He’s a natural cheerleader for our fair city.
Today, I had the privilege of documenting Joe Mallahan’s visit with representatives from the Seattle Mennonite Church located in North City who are doing remarkable work for the homeless. The tour highlighted the ‘God’s lil’ Acre’ with support services to include daily drop-in hours Monday thru Friday, during which time people can access: laundry facilities, showers and hygiene, community kitchen, internet and phone access, resource referral, food closet, storage, blankets and clothes, morning prayers, gardening, and a safe, secure place to just ‘be’. They may find out where to get much needed medical care from local health clinics or just a chance to rest in a non-threatening environment.
The crown jewel of the Seattle Mennonite Community’s commitment to our most vulnerable citizens is the nearly completed housing facility which will eventually house up to 75 residents. Not only is the facility a green-built edifice, but it will offer efficiency apartments with kitchenettes, a health care clinic, a state-of-the-art food locker and distribution center, educational opportunities for cooking classes and behavior health assistance.
SMC’s tireless efforts to help the homeless in Lake City is impressive, for years they have been quietly building a self-contained interdependent community which has strengthened the ties between permanent residents and the homeless living in North Seattle. As we walked about, our guides knew every homeless person on the streets as we traveled from location to location and each person was treated with respect and dignity without the barrier that homelessness so often puts between neighbors. I look forward to celebrating SMC’s accomplishments at their open house in mid-December.
Celebrating life’s beginning and end
Today was all about families. I had the privilege of photographing a family celebrating the one year birthday of a precious baby girl and I was also invited into a hospital room of a family saying goodbye to their teenaged son.
The “Ling” family was just back from a vacation and full of stories about their trip to Disneyland. They were joyful with the optimism that youth and health bring those who don’t have to think about life’s inevitable journey. I was taken in by them and the kids as we played and cheered the first steps of a little girl dressed in pink bows and ruffled dress. Smiles and laughter easily bubbled forth during our visit.
Shortly after coming home, I received an emergency request for photos at Children’s Hospital and I took the assignment. I rushed through lunch hour traffic and entered a very tense situation. This photo shoot would be much different from my morning session. Mom’s face was very grim, dad was extremely upset and “Dakota” was trying to make peace. This family knew that their long journey of health challenges was almost over and now they wanted to create some special memories.
Dakota was very aware of what was happening. Earlier that morning he’d asked his mother if he was going to die and she said, “yes.” She told me that she didn’t want to lie to him. I nodded in agreement with her. Despite his grave situation, Dakota was taking action. He was impressive, he knew the truth and he wanted to have some photos for his parents to remember him. Definitely not your average teenager.
As I started taking photos, I girded my heart and let my automatic pilot take over. My mind was considering, camera angles, lighting situations and Dakota’s ability to respond to my requests. He didn’t have to move much, but he didn’t want to wear his oxygen face mask so we worked quickly. As the camera clicked away, I noticed a few smiles flicker across their faces and the mood began to lift. Dad wouldn’t look at the camera and that was okay. He wanted to be real and I appreciated that. I knew that he wanted to deny the fact that his son was dying and despite all the evidence in front of him, he did not want to give up hope for a better outcome.
Dakota’s mom was amazing. She shared his story with me. How he was born with a congenital heart condition and that he’d been in and out of hospitals all of his life. She said that she knew from the time of his diagnosis that he was going to die. And here she was facing her worst fear with grace and acceptance. She told her husband that these photos were important to Dakota and that later he would be thankful for them. It was a heated argument and I had to step back to let them have their say. But as the emotions simmered down I picked up the camera and captured the intimate unsaid things that loved ones share without the spoken word.
Tonight, Doug and I cooked a lemon meringue pie for the kids and we sat at the breakfast nook enjoying the simple pleasure of being together with the most important people in our lives made ever more poignant by the experiences of my day. Witnessing the joys and sorrows of these two families give me the clarity to live a purpose filled life.
Elijah, mugging for the camera
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2018166&id=1449032866&l=878ee83a96
MaryAnn & Paul get Married
MaryAnn & Paul had a wonderful country wedding on a little farm in Sturgis, MI.
The ceremony was held outside in the gardens and the reception was in the barn.
It was so much fun. Here are a few of my favorite photos.
The Treder sisters
Relaxing before the ceremony
Wedding Details
Mary Ann & Paul had a wonderful country wedding on a little farm in Sturgis, MI.
The ceremony was held outside in the gardens and the reception was in the barn.
It was so much fun. Here are a few of my favorite photos.
One last look
I’m on Facebook & Twitter, how do people get anything done?
Okay, I’ve finally arrived. Now that I am on Facebook and Twitter, six hours just flew by and I have re-connected with aver 15 people. It’s pretty cool. But, this social networking takes a lot of work.
volunteering
For the past few days I’ve been volunteering at the Northwest Center Child Development Program. It’s a pre-school that specializes in care for children with disabilities. My two boys go to school there and we love it.
So, I’ve been organizing the Art Supply closet and redoing all of the bulletin boards trying to create a cohesive theme throughout the school. It’s been great because no matter what I do, it’s noticed. Several teachers approached me to tell me how much they appreciated my help. I find it hard to believe that nobody volunteers for them. I didn’t come forward sooner because I was too busy taking care of kids, but now that I have some time on my hands I figure I should get back to doing some volunteer work.
There’s just something about wonderful about the smell of lunch cooking and the sight of small shoes lined up in the hallways that takes me back to elementary school. The days when teachers and learning were so important.
Today, I worked on a bulletin board and got my hands dirty painting, glueing, stapling and just having fun being creative at such a basic level. Sure I can take a digital camera and capture an image, manipulate it in Photoshop, send it to be printed at the lab, frame it and put it on the wall, but nothing beats getting a simple message up on a wall with paint and construction paper.
I just love roaming the halls to see if I can spot the next artistic prodigy. There are some really talented watercolorists who are between the ages of two and four years old. One of my favorite pieces is by a little boy named Colin who created a “dirt print.” He painted some glue onto a paper in a big stroke and then dumped dirt on it. It’s really amazing, it looks like a Zen Sumi-e painting and I could stare at it all day long. If I were to see it in a gallery, I’d buy it. That’s how much I love it. I found three other watercolor paintings that I featured on the wall in a new “Art Gallery” installation. I hope the parents enjoy it as much as I do. Next week I’ll be photographing the pieces and preparing them to sell as postcards for a school fundraiser.
It has occurred to me that if we could remember the creativity from our childhood when we were without inhibitions we could create art that is bold and without boundaries.
There’s a lot to be learned by learning to see through the eyes of pre-schoolers.
Letting it snow
It’s been snowing off and on today, just flurries, but it’s been cold enough to look at the garden from the dining room window.
My plan to start my vegetable garden early has been pushed back until the danger of frost is gone. As soon as it’s warm enough to put my tender seedlings in the ground we will begin the process of growing; lettuce, spinach, broccoli, pumpkins, herbs and an apple tree.
Maybe doing some Spring cleaning inside the house is a better option than laboring in the cold. Now, to find those things that are in the closet, somewhere …..
