I feel honored to be able to help with something like an apple harvest, to organize volunteer groups to work together to pick apples, as a community, to help feed others. It is work that speaks to me, that makes me feel like I am doing something good and worthwhile. Growing up, I learned from my father about the hunger problem around the world. His work focused on hunger and famine in Africa. I grew up being exposed to conversations about how people can be fed- what kind of crops, what kind of conditions, what does it take and can this problem be solved?

So I guess it makes sense– even though I never imagined this is where I would be. Our lives come full circle, often with a very meandering path, as mine has been. I help feed people. I know I play just a very minor role in doing that, but I realize that I do what I do because of what my dad taught me when I was young. Help others. It’s really just that simple. And in the end, there is benefit all around. Much to be learned about oneself, much to be given and shared, and much that comes back. We give to our community, but it is our community that is truly our teacher.

This piece was accepted into a show at our local art museum which opens in two weeks. I am so honored that I got in. I now have a great opportunity to learn about canvas wraps, how to hang a piece, different choices for printing. It is all so very amazing to me that my work was accepted. I continue to follow my passion for photography and try to shoot every day, even if that means on my iPhone!