a few years ago, i realized i was packing three essentials when traveling:
~ toilet paper : cause i'm a girl. and in countries where there isn't any, ew and ick. followed by gross.
~ industrial strength bug spray : i could be wearing a full on space suit, standing next to a naked person and still be the one that gets bitten.
~ 100 SPF sunscreen : my friends laugh and scientific studies prove it doesn't make a difference, but mind over matter. 100 is just better than 30.
i don't have pictures of me in these far off lands because i'm a humanitarian photographer*. i document the work of non-profits, NGOs and social issues to bring more attention to their missions. nothing brings me to tears like hearing a 103 year old Haitian woman (living in a tiny tiny shack with no electricity or running water) say her only complaint is the occasional heartburn. or learning a convicted felon found his humanity through education by getting his GED, bachelors and masters while serving a 25 to life sentence. or simply following a ballet dancer (turned US marine) around for the day.
think all of this is just me rebelling against my non-exotic childhood in jersey. no, i'm not from the shore. but rather just outside princeton. the nice part of jersey. the intellectual part. there's a university there that supports this claim. although i once saw a snookie wannabe in the parking lot of the whole foods in princeton. and it threw me. seeing one outside of its natural habitat is rather disconcerting.
three things i'd love for you to have / be / do :
~ sense of humor. cliche, i know. but sharing the same sense of humor for the absurd makes that "how was your day, dear?" conversation so much more scintillating. (on occasion, i like to throw out a big word.) plus, if you make me laugh so hard my stomach hurts, i can skip going to the gym. yay!
~ nice to your mother without being a mama's boy. if you don't see the difference, you're not the man for me. sorry.
~ aware of those around you by having integrity, being open minded, accepting not judging others.
bonus points if you know how to balance your check book.
*although when i was little, i wanted to be a cashier when i grew up.
