Thanks all around!

If you’ve ever looked at the insert on an album or perhaps the acknowledgements in a book, you’ll see that the artists always thank a multitude of people. I’d always taken that for granted … sure, there were people in the background.

Today, Wednesday, March 17th, 2010 is my last day with SAIC. As I go to close this chapter of the book that is my life, I want to say thanks to a lot of people who I’ve met along the way and who have given me tremendous support during this trying and uplifting time. If I have missed anyone, I assure you that it was not intentional at all!

I was reading, last night, Joseph Campbell’s: The Hero of a Thousand Faces. He talks a lot about ritual and how it is important to moving on to the next phase. I’ll make this my ritual of moving on. Saying thanks.

Family

• Vera – First and foremost, my wife. She had to bear the brunt of additional responsibilities when I was away. Tony had started a new school, 37 miles away from home and she had to take him and pick him up each day. She did it without complaint for an entire school year. It pained me to hear the exhaustion in her voice when I talked to her, but she did it. All the while, she never asked for me to return. She knew that this time apart was good for me, good for us, good for the family.
• Tony – When I started, I missed his entire Junior year and now, most of his Senior year. I got to attend only about 30% of his basketball games, but he didn’t complain. He only showed appreciation for the games that I could attend.
• Pedro – Pedro returned back from college to stay for a while until he could get his feet under him. He’s now on his own. I missed his entire return, save for a few weekends, but he was always happy to see me.
• Hobbs – He always showed enthusiasm and great joy when I walked through the door. He didn’t get his customary walks, but he was still glad to see me.

Old Friends

• Richard – We would talk almost every day and Richard always had a joke to share or some interesting story. In my down times, he would pump me up from time to time and show me that it wasn’t all bad.
• Gordon – My bestest bud from high school – What can I say? This guy is a joy to talk to and I’m glad that I’ve known him for as long as I have. Certainly my privilege. He always had an understanding ear when I shared with him my trials and tribulations.

New Friends

• Dennis A.K.A. Hawk, Vinny, Brandon – This was my superstar team for our project. We completed this project against all odds and ended up smelling like roses and being rock stars for a few minutes. These guys helped to pull me more out of my introverted shell. The encouraged me to come out with them. We would go bowling. It was, and has been a great time. I even went over to Hawk’s house, they taught me how to play Texas Hold ‘em (Poker) and I cleaned ‘em out! Thanks to them, I now drink 3x as much as I used to. Before, I’d drink one bottle of beer per year, now I’m up to 3, maybe more!
• Kevin – What can you say about Kevin? The guy has a joke for everything. Kevin is the most entertaining guy that I have ever met. Around this guy, it’s just nonstop hilarity. I dare you have more than 3 or 4 serious minutes in a row!
• Ulonda & Sabrina – Test goddesses! This was our testing team and they were flexible, nice, supportive, and just fun to be around. Not to mention that they were very, very, very easy on the eyes, too.
• Billy – Billy was my first friend in town. I think around the first or second week, we went to see a movie – Tropic Thunder. He really enjoyed it. He’s a fun guy to hang out with and he loves Thai food, so he can’t be all that bad!

Others

• John R. – Thanks for your all of your help, your understanding, and your patience in helping me to discover my voice and find my own personal myth.
• Craig – Thanks for teaching me guitar. Of course, I’ve still got a long, long way to go. I hope that we can find a way to work together across the miles.
• Justin – Thanks for sharing your story with a complete stranger that was toting a camera.
• Dave – It’s about respect! You certainly made my stay memorable.
• Jessica & Clarissa – These were my apartment manager and assistant managers, respectively. They always treated me with respect and a warm smile every time that I went into the office to pick up a package. There was always time for talk to see how I was doing, how my family was doing, etc. I felt at home here, although home was some 210 miles to the north.
• And last, but certainly not least, all of you who kept reading this blog entitled Paul Lester Photography, even when it had very little to do with photography and more to do with my thrashing about as I learned more about life, more about self.

And finally, to myself for taking this challenge and all that it entailed. I can say, honestly, that had I known what it would have contained, I might have turned down the offer, but I’m glad to have experienced it. Just look at all of the friendships that I formed and the cool people that I met and the layers that I have been able to peel away and being able to find that voice that has been missing for so very many years. It was worth it!

Let’s see what’s next!

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