Family Trees
March 26, 2009 | Filed Under Galveston, National Projects | Leave a Comment
One of the jewels of the trip was found in an unlikely place. I am going to take you back to our friend Thuy’s home in San Leon, Texas. While there Jeff Shinabarger, and I had the pleasure of interviewing Thuy and her experience of Hurricane Ike. One part of the interview that keeps playing over in my mind is what encourages her family to staying in San Leon.
As you can see these trees that were planted in their front yard years ago are pretty important. When Thuy first said family tree, I thought she was referring to her family lineage. Then she nodded and right away I realized she was referring to the tall, strong trees in her front yard. These trees have endured a lot over the years. They have weathered storm after storm, and basked in the light and warmth of the sun. In a way, they are truly like family. In our lives, even after the storms blow over us, may it be trouble and hardships, and we may have our possession destroyed by disasters, ultimately we are left with family. They carry us through the hard times and laugh with us through the fun.
Home Sweet Home
March 24, 2009 | Filed Under Galveston | 1 Comment
Sometimes I think how grateful I am. I am grateful for the wife that I have, and the privilege we have to work together, living out our gifts of our creativity. I am also grateful for having a home and a bed to lay my weary head at night. Then I remember the stories and the people that we saw while in southeast Texas this past week. A little overwhelming….
Over the next few weeks we are going to be reflecting on the moments and the photographs taken while there. From Galveston Bay, to Trinity Bay. To the island of Galveston to San Leon and Oak Island. From Thuy’s family to the Beach family and everyone in between have a face and a name, and a story to tell. They are each people, important people. They might have been stripped away with every personal effects and that is now left in a pile on the side of the road, but they still have their identity, dignity and hope. That pile on the side of the road, that was pulled from the house is more than just trash, its there personal life. Those items were previous Christmas gifts, a drawing for dad for Father’s Day, furniture that took months to save up for, and even photographs that took a lifetime to collect. Even, at one time, there was a person who climbed these stairs to the deck of their home which stood on these stilts. Now all that is left are the skeletal remains of the home once lived in for safety and security and comfort.
Day Five – Reflections
March 20, 2009 | Filed Under Galveston | 1 Comment
Today we had a few other family portraits in Galveston, Texas, to wrap up the portraits for those in the Galveston area. Then we headed up back up to San Leon, Texas to wrap up a few more families there as well. (By the way, the new slogan for the town is, ‘A small drinking community with a large fishing problem’) While there we took time to listen to the stories of the devastation that these people faced.
Below is one of the family, June and David, before doing Thuy’s. They completely lost everything. Right now they live in a FEMA trailer right in front of their home. They have faced much adversity since the hurricane. Like simply trying to find a roofer. David shared with me, how they paid a roofer a rather large deposit on the job for supplies and the person is no where to be found. We were honored to be a part of their lives this day. I love photographs of generational gaps, depicting the years of family, counting the age like rings on a tree.
We took a few moments, after that, and did Thuy’s family portraits while there. After we finished up we decided to interview her and her experience with the hurricane. Also, we wanted to find out what she thought about what we were doing. It was nothing but positive response from her. She was so candid and open about what she took in during that time. We will have that interview for you soon. So check back here for it and more!
On a side note, she took the week off this week because she wanted to be home for here children’s spring break. Then she met us and the Original Event crews earlier this week. When she heard that they were here to rebuild homes and Katie and I were here to do family photographs, she hopped on board with us all week to help organize families in need in the area. So she took time, that she set aside for her family this week, to help other families.
I am looking forward to heading home but really wish I had more time here. Another week or two, I feel would suffice for such a task as documenting families’ live and the stories they could tell. I truly wished we had more time with all the families. To really get to know and spend time with.