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Who Am I?

I

I am a photographer and writer. I am always creative and open minded.

I believe we should be free to be who we are as long as we do not hurt anyone else.

Yet I have trouble sharing my art and my true self.

I don’t always trust others and maybe I never will, but I am working on it.

II

I was born in America, as were my brothers, sister, aunts, uncles and cousins.
My ancestors were black and white, born in the U.S. and Canada over the last two centuries at least.

My skin is caramel but skin color in my family ranges from vanilla to milk chocolate.

III

My father left when I was a teenager. I had an incredible, beautiful mother.

Both of my parents are now gone.

I began living on my own at a relatively early age.

Difficult times taught me a lot and made me stronger.

But I also believe in humility and compassion.

IV

My friends have been black, Latino, Jamaican, Asian, Italian, Jewish, Irish, Indian

and almost every other background.

But my friends of color and I have experienced racism that my white friends have not.

V

Genuine connections transcend time and distance.

Honesty, acceptance, trust and support are more important than the methods of communication.

My digital friends know more about me than many of my non-digital friends and family members.

VI

I love being a male.

I do not desire to be more powerful than other men or to suppress them.
I simply understand and relate to physically being a guy.

Just as only a woman truly knows the female body, only a man truly knows

how a male body feels and behaves.

VII

During my life, I spent large amounts of time running, swimming hundreds of laps in a pool
and bicycle riding for miles.

I love music, movies, videos and other forms of expression.
I relate to other artists. I love technology.

VIII

I love cities, architecture and urban life.

I love London, Paris, Los Angeles and many other places.
I live in New York, the ultimate city.

It is frustrating, expensive and insane, yet it holds more

for the mind and soul than almost anywhere else.

IX

I love mountains, forests, valleys and the ocean.

I love summer and the beach.
I love sunrise, blue skies and sunset.

I will never forget hiking and camping in the woods.
I love seeing the stars at night and I love learning about galaxies in the universe.

X

I never forget my blessings.

Many people have it better than me but many have it worse.
The greatest gifts are still the simplest ones: sight, sound, taste, touch and smell.
I know the power of love to affect our lives in profound ways.

I know the value of life.