Photos from Christine, my 1st real friend in Seymour
Billy's death gave all of us a big shock and made us sad,
we all miss him so much...
I contacted Christine...I guess Billy made us be connected, again.
Although, Chris and I have been fb friends, we have never communicated...
Now, we have been trying to catch up!
This is a gift from Billy as well as Rosemary and Bill!
I miss you Billy, but thanx for the beautiful gift!
I first came to US as an intercultural exchange teacher in 1987, I stayed with Rosemary and Bill, whom I have never met, before . I went to LoPresti Elementary School with Rosemary everyday and taught the Japanese culture to Rosemary's 4th graders as well as other classes upon requests.
Christine was Billy's wife and has become my first friend in US, she made a welcomeboard which Rosemary and Bill had when they picked me up at the JFK airport 4/10/1987! (I still remember the scene, Rosemary and Bill was standing outside of the door waving this board to me! www). Chris was major in Art and we had similer interests! Time has flown so fast, has it been almost 25 years since we last saw each other? A few days ago, again, we started writing to each other back & forth and trying to catch up... It is a very sad occation, however it gave us a good meaning too, we can talk about Billy, Rosemary and Bill, our loved ones. Also, I have been connected with Shannon, whom Rosemary and Bill loved so much, the first girl grandchild.
Then, I have learned that Chris still has the photos I have shot, more than 30 years ago, photos of her daughter, Shannon. Attached, please find the beautiful photos Chris has sent me!
Thank you, Chris!
Also, the following is the message from Chris:
You gave me this framed photo of Shannon as a gift and when I moved in with my partner,
he had these photos of his daughter and his mother on her wedding day.
They all look as if they were framed to purposely be displayed together.
I also keep them together because they represent the women in our lives.
My daughter, his daughter and his mother.
We look at them and remember them as they were and as who they are today.
The small mirror reflects us and who we are today.
The memories make me happy and the colors are soothing.
It’s important to have this special place to stop each day to look and feel happiness and be at peace.
Also the the photo makes me feel closer to Shannon even though she lives so far away.
ビルがバイクの事故で亡くなったと聞き、最初の奥さんクリスにメッセージを送ってみた、25年ぶりに話をする、お互いのこの時間を埋めるように何度もやり取りをする。今はパートナーと一緒にフロリダで幸せに暮らしているとのこと、嬉しかった。そして、RosemaryとBillにもShannonと孫Brandonとで会いに行っていたということも聞けて涙が出るほど嬉しかった。fbで見た、ひ孫と対面したRosemaryの笑顔が忘れられない。
そして、私が写真家になりたての頃に撮ったChrisの娘Shannonの写真を今でもお家に飾ってくれていると聞き驚きとともに心から感謝！パートナーの娘さんと彼のお母様の結婚写真と一緒に大切に飾ってくれていて、毎日そこに挨拶をするのが日課だそう。そして、Shannonとのツーショットは、離れて暮らしている今でもとっても近くに感じる...と言ってくれた。まさに私が写真の素晴らしさを日本でお伝えしたい理由。離れていても、心があったかくなる、その一瞬に引き戻してくれる、あの時の空気や匂い温度や会話...全てを思い出させてくれる、家族や友達をより愛おしく思わせてくれる...写真を皆さんに残して欲しい理由。
Billyの死という悲しいことが始まりではあったけれど、Chrisとこうやって25年ぶりにまた会話ができたことを嬉しく思う。そして、Shannonとも繋がった。初めての女の子の孫ShannonのことをRosemaryは本当に愛おしんでいたから。BillyやRosemary&Billのことをまた話せる友人がいることに感謝。
毎日いろいろとあるけれど、Life is going on!
残された私たちに託されたmissionをやり続けないとと、改めて思わせてもらっている。
皆様に感謝です。
Love, Midori S. Inoue
midorisphoto.com/midori/
