more dreams, more something

Taken early this morning as the sun rose over the city.

***

The days are getting shorter now. The time of morning when I might normally crawl out of the house to take photos before the day begins... now it's too dark. So I guess I'll be starting to mark when my days begin by when, theoretically, I have enough light to start taking photos. If it's not too cold for me to get out of bed.

Tomorrow morning, if all goes well, I'll walk down to the corner and buy a newspaper. Which is something I don't normally do, truth be told.

But this morning will be different, because, if all goes well, I'll open a section of the paper and read something about me. Which kind of floors me and kind of makes me laugh, too.

Never, ever, in a million years did I even think about something like this. I just want to take photos, and meet people, and enjoy the city. And in doing just that, look what's happened.

People keep saying to me: maybe this will be your big break, maybe your phone will start ringing off the hook, maybe you'll start getting big paid jobs.

Maybe, maybe, maybe. I'd like to hitch a ride upon a star. Who wouldn't? But I'm not going to wish for anything. Look at what's happened without me wishing a thing... how could it get better than this?

If all that happens tomorrow is that I walk down to the corner, buy my paper, meet my friend Red Shoes for a cup of coffee, whether I'm in the paper or not, life is good. Thanks to you for being along with me for the ride.

And thanks, San Francisco. Because whatever does happen, I have you to thank most of all.

These moments.

This city inspires me in so many ways. Where do I start?

***

Yesterday I was interviewed for an article about i live here:SF. I'll be more specific next week, but suffice to say, it was a heady experience. Not because I was talking about me, but because of something that's become so big and personally important in my life, and to trace the threads of what has happened that has brought me to sit in a Hayes Valley cafe 6 months later, across from a reporter with a notebook and recorder, sipping a cup of hot chai.

Above is a photo of Mariana. And her love story. I feel so honored how people share with me. And in sharing with me, they share with you, too.

Meet Mariana.

***

ps.: The show at Tedda Hughes is going really well. People keep buying and I keep replacing. So stop by if you can. The show will be up until Sept. 20.

What you helped us do on Mother's Day

Because of YOUR generosity and love and care, K and the kids got to spend all of Mother's Day at the zoo. (We-- meaning all of us-- got them a membership so they can go as often as they like over the next year. The kids LOVE the animals... thank you!)

We saw giraffes and zebras and flamingoes and lions and tigers and goats and ...

We played in the petting zoo and ate hot dogs (the goats got pellets) and had ice cream and juice...

And swung on the swings and slid on the slides. Just the normal happy things that moms and kids should get to do... and they loved every minute of it.

Thank you for your continued generosity and love. YOU are the people that are making a difference.

My Bunny

"Grown don't mean nothing to a mother. A child is a child. They get bigger, older, but grown? What's that suppose to mean? In my heart it don't mean a thing." ~ Toni Morrison, Beloved

***

My mother in high school.
Isn't she pretty?

Mom and me.

***

I don't remember exactly how old I was when I started calling my mom Bunny. I do call her Mommy too, but somehow Bunny (like as a cute bunny rabbit, not a WASP-y Bunny from the country club set) is what sounds right.

I have thought a lot about mothers lately. And the children they love. As you might have noticed.

Not being a mother myself, I still feel a mom-ness coming out in me when I am with K and her kids.

I think if it wasn't for my Bunny, I wouldn't even know how to go about helping K at all.

***

My Bunny is the person who made me who I am today.

Boy, am I grateful.

Thank you, Mommy. Thank you, Bunny.

I love you for eternity.

xoxo