NYC Pride 2010

Today was my first time ever attending an LGBT Pride Parade. I had a ball in spite of the crowds and my aching feet. The energy and sense of belonging were amazing to me, and my shutter-finger itched all day. There were beautiful LGBT people (and straight-but-not-narrow people!) of all colors and sizes and shapes and walks of life. The 320+ photos I took weren't nearly enough to scratch my photo-making itch.

There will be more photos, but I am completely wiped out and need to collapse into bed. (T is smart; she's been passed out for about an hour, already.)

I hope you had a very happy Pride Sunday, too.

Regrouping

My brain is slowly waking up from a dense fog. Snippets of the past nine days are floating around in a disjointed cloud. The call about my uncle's death. Hitting a pothole that night and putting my bike out of commission. A couple of motorcycle rides. Wilting in the blistering heat one day last week at the waterfront. Saturday afternoon's brief memorial service. Attending church yesterday morning. Spending hours on my feet yesterday afternoon/evening at NYC's LGBT Pride celebration. (Why was I awake until nearly 1 AM uploading photos?) Waking briefly when T arose at 5 this morning for work. (Thank you, earplugs!) Finally rolling over at 8 AM groggy as all get-out and feeling as though I was hung over, though I can't remember the last time I had a drink.

T says it's the heat and humidity. shutterbug says it's the emotional highs and lows of the past week. I say they are both right.

It feels good to be working, again. The day-to-day routine is helping life come back into focus. Outside of myself I have a house to keep, a class to take, a budget to keep balanced, and a partner to care for. Outside of that I have family and friends to relate to. And there are photography endeavors I have left hanging for a while that I'd like to work on. My brain was too shaken to focus much on anyone else for the past week, but bit by bit I am able to reach out and grab hold of the tendrils of others' lives and reattach myself to them. I think I'll be alright.

Thank you for your patience.



Regrouping
27 June 2010

Questions I Usually Have After Being Out in Public

1. Why do some people feel the need to be incredibly loud, particularly in closed spaces? We don't want to hear you calling your friends/family from down the subway platform or the other end of the subway car or across the hallway or three doors down or down the block. Which also leads me to ask...

2. If the person you are speaking to is standing right next to you and has hearing sharp enough for them to cop an attitude when I softly suck my teeth at y'all's loudness, why must you shout?