Reflections

Monday, September 29, 2008

Friday, September 12, 2008

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

The city was grander then I thought possible. It took me over 30 hours to get to NY from New Orleans. A hellish story not worth sharing. Had to sleep in the airport, switch airport in DC. It was horrible. But it was worth it. Well worth it.

Empire State Building at sunset.

My Brother and Nathan whom I meet there.

Battery Park. Harlan looking to Miss Liberty

Central Park

A typical street corner, full of cabs

Waiting for the subway

I decided I could live in that city. The city of New York. The people from all around the world. An amazing, a collision of worlds and cultures.

I loved the history. I loved standing in the places that represent the country I love.

Home now for 10 weeks. But some fun shoots coming non the less.

Gratefulness

jocelyn.elise

Monday, July 28, 2008

New Orleans...

Jazz and things, pretty good coffee for a nonportland city.

This is downtown, right by the mississippi. I loved the french influence on the buildings.

Off to New York!

-je

Thursday, July 24, 2008

friends in strange places

As I walked through the Dallas airport, me and my guitar I smiled as I head banjo music. Gotta love Texas. As it got louder I was delighted to find a classic old man, in overalls, flag tie and hat smiling at everyone who walked past.

He caught my eye and with that sparkle that people have only when they have really lived.

“Hey there missy, that there your g-tar? Come on over here and show me what you can do.”

I have been asked the play a million times and have never obliged but for some reason today I considered it. What the heck, why not? I walked over to him. I had time to kill and this man looked like he had some stories.

After a hacked up blue grass version of Amazing grace and Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus he looked at me and said.

“you got time to see something?”

Bingo.

He bought out a book, tattered and what looked like something from a movie...a few times I looked around for a camera to see if this guy was for real. I open the worn pages to find black and white images of him as a little boy, with his “daddy”. I smirked at the wobbly written letters of a 6 year old. “Dear daddy, how are the boys? I miss you, and need your help with my homework.Come home soon.”

It was a story of a boy and his father in WW2.

“I always was looking forward to the day when my dad could help me with my homework. I was always counting the days until my daddy could come home. But, missy, he never did. He died when I was 7 years old.”

I asked him why he played, “I come here every Thursday to say thank you to the troops, I surely do thank them. People here do not say thank you enough to those fellows. The good Lord said come here and make people smile. So here I am.”

That he did. I sat there next to him and watched. People would come over. He asked how the day had been, “where ya’ll from now? Oh my, that must be a nice place.” Some lingered, some kept walking. All smiled. He went on and on playing that twangie song and singing with his hat and and smiling and blessing and winking and stomping and loving being on that stool.

This man in the Dallas airport is effective. The staff loved him. The troops saw his grateful heart. The tired mom was encouraged as he cared and asked about the baby. The dear old lady was thought of as he brought her napkins for a spill and played her request from years past.

I saw some of Jesus today. And I loved it.

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

good bye country liven... for a bit anyway

I love not know exactly what will happen, who I will meet, what my camera and I will see....

and

I am quite excited about this little ditty. It will start with a girls conference in Louisiana. Going from New Orleans, to New York, to Baltimore to DC.

So for now good bye to country living and hello to hostels, cookouts, sweet tea, boiled peanuts? Buses and some stinking AWESOME photography locations.

Stay tuned and much love

-jocelyn elise