Brooke

[Wake Forest University]

Brooke Thomas is a student journalism intern with the Office of Creative Services at Wake Forest.  Brooke is the point guard for the University's women's basketball team and an aspiring writer.

I had the pleasure of spending a moment with Brooke surrounding her brief photoshoot.  Brooke has a warmth that is  absolutely contagious (just look at that smile.)

After our meeting, Brooke sent me a poem that reflected on some of her experiences in academia.  One line that caught my eye was

"The most important college notebook, Holds the pages of my own, Failures and accomplishments."

What a great reminder.  If you're like me you like to hold on to those A papers and let the others slip into the recycling. But perhaps we shouldn't be so quick to toss them away--just like the successes, you worked hard to fail.  And that's where the invaluable lessons lie... in the areas we need to reassess, recommit, and learn to pull through.  

And in case this hasn't been enough of a motivational speech... I've decided to learn to be more timely.  Where will you start to pull through?

Convocation

[Wake Forest University]

Convocations are excellent little nuggets of university life. Attendees are dressed to the nines (for academia anyways... check out that fly skirtsuit,) professors don bright, extravagant robes, proud emotion runs wild, and everyone is on his best behavior.

But this year's Convocation for the School of Divinity was a little extra-special. We were honored to have Dr. Harvey G. Cox from the Harvard Divinity School share a moving message as inspired from the works of Roger Williams and Martin Luther King Jr. on the importance of a faith-filled community.

Spirits were high throughout the event and even following the processional when students, faculty, and even President Nathan O. Hatch lingered to greet one another and celebrate another rich season in academia.

WSNC

[Winston-Salem, NC]

Winston-Salem, home to Hanes Brands and Reynolds Tobacco, was once upon a time one of the nations leaders in production.  Today much of that production has shifted to the east... factories and warehouses line the skyline- empty or under construction... waiting to be torn down or repurposed as trendy condominiums. 

Soledad O'Brien

[Wake Forest University]

On Monday investigative reporter Soledad O'Brien joined Wake Forest University to commemorate the work of Martin Luther King Jr. in service of civil liberty.  The event was sponsored in a joint effort between Winston-Salem State and Wake Forest Universities, WFU Office of Multi-Cultural Affairs, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.  O'Brien reflected on the perseverance of minority groups in the US and shared on her experiences working on the ground-breaking documentaries Latino in America and Black in America. O'Brien is a graduate of Harvard University.  She currently hosts CNN's Starting Point.

to be where you are

[Kitty Hawk, NC]

some folk wisdom from the maritime forest of Kitty Hawk, NC... "where ever you are, be there."

intitially the phrase sounds kind of goofy... like it's mishapen and has a duck bill... but it's the best advice i've heard this year, and has possibly become my mantra for 2012.  

hopping from one place to another... a new town, new friends, a new day.  or maybe the same town, the same event but your mind wanders elsewhere.  

technology has become the scapegoat for our postmodern disconnect.  parents blame kids for spending too much time on their phones... and vice versa.  and no one can focus.  but what we're really up in arms about isn't the gadgets but the way they condition us to be one place and think another.

as i'm taking some time to recharge, it is my goal to practice and plan for this new state of mind.  it will definately be a challenge as the season picks up and more acts join the circus but it is my resolution to pare down.  to simplify my thoughts and calendar.  i'm going to fail.  i tend to look towards the next activity... even as i write i'm thinking of my coffee cooling in the other room, my portfolio review in the morning, my ritual beach run, and wondering if i should weigh myself... or shouldn't.  i'll challenge you as i challenge myself.  be where you are.  right now is enough.

the images above are from last nights sunset.  to the right: Ezra, the family golden waits paitently by my truck for a walk on the beach.  on the left:  the sun sets over the Albemarle sound at the Windgrass access in Kitty Hawk.  this is the same sunset we watched from our home almost every evening growing up... and as high schoolers we'd ride bikes to the sound access to climb trees and play photographers... some things never do change.

spools for thread

[Traverse City, MI]

rip. stretch, tug.  stretch.  a pool of string-- heaps.

lately, i've felt i could relate to unspooled thread.  pulled out and left in a pool... without a way to rewind into that place that felt like home.  jump, twist, tangle as i might...

  it won't be as neat as it once was.

the port of Traverse City met me with bitter winter gusts and a startlingly slower pace of life.  literature, yoga, coffee, Christmas prep, literature, family, sleep.  

we've come accustomed to a circus life.  don't let the fire scorch your throat or the elephant slip. balance, steady, flip.

the holidays can be disarming.  especially buying time in a strange town, waiting for loved ones to pause the bustle for that one to two moments each evening. and connect.  some say solitude is a blessing, this time around it was the source of much... anxiety?  no, antsy.  but make it a noun. 

on Christmas day we jumped on the freeway for North Carolina, our home but this time in a different home in the Blue Ridge.  somehow, even if it was just one evening, we were all in the same room complete with a fire, stockings, and a decorated tree. 

by the next morning we returned to our most common state of scatter... though, a couple of us did stay behind to take advantage of the day hikes and ski slopes nearby.  

after a week, i made my way back to Charlotte to ring in the New Year with a little bit of bluegrass and good friends... and to nurse a fractured wrist.  as it mends, i am home on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.  due to the injury, i'll be spending less time shooting for another week or so, but i do promise we'll be kicking again soonest.

in the mean time, Happy New Year!  this week marks the 1st year anniversary of The Consequence of Wander Lust.  thanks for the faithful following!

cold fish, hot yoga

[Charlotte, NC]

i took a two hour detour to Boone en route to Charlotte.  it may seem unreasonable but the mountains and stars are never really out of the way.  

early this morning i made my way down the mountain as the sun rose over the Blue Ridge, waking the frost covered mountainside. 

in Charlotte i met Travis-- accomplished cyclist, aspiring coach, outdoor aficionado, and progressing yogi.  though our paths don't often cross, when they do his warmth is that of a seasoned friend.  after a cup of tea we made our way to Yoga One for my first hot yoga class.  Hollace, our instructor, is like family to Travis and made me feel just as welcome.  after just one class i was hooked (i took another class Tuesday and am signed up for one in the morning.) hot yoga is the perfect combination of a summer run on the beach and a dance class.  it has all the benefits of a high pressure workout meanwhile bringing calm from the inside out.

after yoga Travis shared one of his favorite local eateries that specialized in Thai curry and fish tacos-- talk about perfection.  the place reminded me of restaurants at home on the beach.  the walls were painted freely and homemade sculptures hung sporadically from the ceiling.  the proprietor Casey spent the morning welding  New Orleans style fencing delicately around the parameter of the patio. he explained his vision for the iron garden because "iron is too harsh to be anything but a rose."  we split ceviche tacos and red curry before dashing to the airport... a lovely beginning to a day that would bring a series of brief flights on petite planes and layovers in airports as busy as the holiday decor.

CHANGE

[Winston-Salem, NC]

before you run screaming about my lack of sensitivity... this post is about Blacks, Latinos, homosexuals, illegal immigrants, homeless, Muslims, Catholics, and evangelicals.  all in one place.

CHANGE stands for Communities Helping All Neighbors Gain Empowerment and that's exactly what they do.  CHANGE is an industrial areas foundation composed of 23 member congregations from the greater Winston-Salem area that have chosen to band together in order to build a better community.  they unite on common issues such as economic development, public health, and education in order to let the less common areas fall away.  for more information visit www.changeiaf.org

the images above are from the CHANGE 10th Anniversary Assembly of Celebration hosted this Sunday at the Emmanuel Baptisit Church.  the assembly included a report from each member congregation, food, festivities, and a celebration of community.

Mustafa

[Winston-Salem, NC]

I had the pleasure of spending the afternoon with Mustafa, a friend and co-conspiror of sorts.  Two Septembers ago we met in the library Starbucks and our paths have crossed pretty consistently ever since.  

Recently, I began to work with the Winston-Salem area Latino Caucus as a part of a service learning class on Latino voting behavior. The caucus falls under the umbrella organization CHANGE.  Mustafa has worked as an associate organizer with CHANGE since his graduation from Wake Forest in 2010.

these images were two of my favorites from a casual portrait session.  as of late portraits tend to include sunshine, fresh air, and cool conversation... not bad for a day in the office.

Breakfast Of Course

[Winston-Salem, NC]

downtown 4th st from the west end, hang a left on Trade.  pass sweet potatoes, single brothers, the little cottage shop that sells homemade soaps and candle sticks.  on the right.  BOC.  

the hostess will seat you in one of two rooms, the day room or the night room.  or the patio.  the walls and ceiling feature imaginative murals. and on the menu? no ordinary breakfast.  we're talking tempeh for breakfast, argentine eggs benedict, and my personal favorite... the avocado BLT.  

this image was taken at Brett's birthday brunch just as he blew out the candle on a celebratory cup of chocolate mousse. the fatherly grin to the left is our friend Jon, who lovingly titles this image the culmination of my college career (do realize he's working on his 3rd or 4th degree...) Brett would call it the evolution of man, giving a nod to the monkey in the background.  i like to think of it as a friends with benefits.  photographic benefits, that is.  both men have since framed the silver gelatin prints and display them proudly in their respective residences.