About three weeks ago, I had the opportunity to take photographs for an article that would be published in the newspaper for my Gap Year program that I am going on coming up in September. I was super excited for these photos, but I knew exactly where I did not want to take them. My house. I was thinking that these photos were going to be taken in front of a wall, uptown Greenwood, or somewhere else that was not my house. In my head, I was not about to have these photos taken at my house….it just wasn’t going to happen. My house looks like hurricane Mike came through and flipped everything inside out. Clothes everywhere, popcorn on the floor from watching movies in the living room, dirty dishes, dust on the TV console, and yeah… you get where I am going. Not very “picture friendly” 24/7. Well sure enough, I get a text message from the photographer, Jeff, that we would be taken pictures at my house. So, my immediate cleaning mode is engaged and no longer would I allow hurricane Mike to have tracks left in my house. I straightened up my room, swept through the kitchen, and vacuumed the carpet. I lit candles all over the house, polished the dust off the TV console, and made sure the house would look nicely presentable for Jeff to come and take photos. My mom just watched me, knowing that I was blowing everything out of proportion as far as turning into “Ms. Clean” in less than 5 minutes. She knew that he would only be coming over for maybe max of 30 minutes for photos, while there I was preparing for the Queen of England to come and sit for 10 hours on the couch as the coconut candle is lit on the nicely polished TV console.
Jeff pulls into my driveway and I am ripped nerves. I was hoping that the house was clean, presentable, and he would be pleased with the space he chose to do pictures in. Jeff walked through the door and was very tall. He had tattoos all down his arms and had a northern accent because he was originally from Massachusetts. Super cool dude, easy to start up conversation with, and really hopeful. He mentioned he wanted to take a few photos in my bedroom and I was really nervous about that. I was checking off all the things in my head I hoped I did to make sure my room looked nice. Did I make my bed? Did I put my clean clothes away in my drawers? Did I put any trash I found in a bag? We took a few in my room and then headed outside by a tree to take a couple more. We took some with the fam and then a couple of solo ones. After we got done taking photos, we had some conversation with Jeff. We were talking about my upcoming trip and how beautiful the world is and seeing different parts of it. We talked about the living part of it, and how it will be so simple but yet hard at times.
We started talking about houses, tents, and beds and then Jeff points to his car in the driveway. He said “That’s my house.” Jeff is homeless and living out of his car with everything he has ever owned with him in a little SUV. He is enrolled at the local tech school and is taking photography classes to pursue his passion that he loves. He is interning with the newspaper and he said he is trying to get his “foot in the door” as far as improving his photography. He says he eventually wants to make a career out of it and being homeless isn’t stopping him from pursuing his passion. He said he wants to do it forever. Jeff wished me good luck on my trip, told me to take many pictures for him, and we said goodbye.
Wow. I was in awe of how completely shook up I was after he left. I cried. I felt guilty. I felt selfish. I was irritated with myself. I was worried all of that time about how clean the house needed to be, when Jeff just sees it as a blessing to walk into one. I was worried that my bed wasn’t made in my room, when Jeff just wants to have one to sleep in and his own room.
He really put things in perspective for me after those short 30 minutes we had together. I am so blessed to have a house to come to and to live in. I am blessed with a room, a bed, and clean sheets. I am blessed with plates to eat on and running water when I need to clean them. I am blessed with the choice of A/C or heat when I need it. I am blessed with pillows, blankets, and a closet to put my clothes in. I am blessed. Jeff showed me hope from a different view. Jeff showed me courage and thankfulness from a different view. Jeff showed me a lot and I will always remember the time we had talking.
to Jeff — If you’re reading this by some chance, thank you for coming over and taking pictures. Thank you for not being afraid to be real with someone you just met. I admire that a lot. Keep up that drive to pursue your passion of photography. You will create such beautiful art through captured moments and it will be so beautiful yet so incredible. I believe in you. You impacted me so much within that short amount of time we had together. You will get exactly where you want to be as long as remain full of hope. I know that darkness seems like all you see when you are alone, but once light hits it, it won’t stand a chance. The light will bless you, Jeff. Light is coming!! YOU are going to crazy things with your photography. You are going to blossom into something incredible. I believe in you Jeff!!! & adore your northern accent. Thank you, Jeff.
with love,
Brooklyn Dahmer
