Chris Petty Photo Art
206/365: Mourning Time
April 8th, 2011
[Press L on your keypad]
As I sit typing you now, words cannot begin to express this day. Not only does today mark the 38th anniversary of my mother Diann's death, today a wave of sorrow and emotion has taken me out to sea. At exactly 4:30pm I received a phone call from my friend Valerie, Brett's wife that a close buddy had taken his life. I'm still in shock as I type these words and it's now 9:30pm. I had planned on this photo for a few days, thinking of the importance of this day and how I would memorialize it with the addition into the 365 Project. I was merely one year and five days old the day my mother was killed on April 8th, 1973 in a car accident. It's a very strange feeling, having no recollection or memory of the person who brought you into this life. Although I have a few stories of her and even some belongings my Grandmother still has to this day, there is no comfort in such loss. She was at the tender age of 21 when she was killed. Her birthday was July the 4th, 1951. This year she would have been 60. On one side of the coin, such sorrow and unfortunate turn of events. On the other, I was incredibly lucky to have been raised by her parents- two of the most giving people on earth. And for this I am forever grateful to them. They had eight children- seven boys, one girl. My uncles were like brothers to me. My father was never in the picture, another story in another book. I'm very, very fortunate to have been cared for by my Grandparents. I had a predominantly good upbringing in a close family, in spite of changes later in adulthood. It's also odd to think how you may have turned out being raised by someone else, even your own biological mother. Despite any hardships in life I feel I've somehow managed to keep an overall positive mental attitude for the most. I am glad to be who I am today. On another note, I must mention to my friends and family of Japeth Suslee that my heart is with you. I'm extremely saddened and mournful. Japeth and his father were very close to my family, mainly my uncle Randy and his family. I can recall the days growing up and watching Dave (Japeth's dad) and Randy race motocross back in the 70's and 80's. Japeth was younger than me and was always around, but we had became closer over the course of the past four years or so. Japeth was one of the first people I took a photo of when I got my camera in 2009! Always hold onto those photos, you never know just how important they may turn out to be. He was also very good friends with my cousin Nick (#153 of 365), who was killed in 2001. This has been a sad week indeed for me...
By the time I finish my first 365 Project, you will have learned much about me and my life...
Only natural light used here.
Want to be a part of my 365 Project and get your photo taken? Got an idea/concept? Contact me, Don't be shy! Let's create art!
206/365: Mourning Time
April 8th, 2011
[Press L on your keypad]
As I sit typing you now, words cannot begin to express this day. Not only does today mark the 38th anniversary of my mother Diann's death, today a wave of sorrow and emotion has taken me out to sea. At exactly 4:30pm I received a phone call from my friend Valerie, Brett's wife that a close buddy had taken his life. I'm still in shock as I type these words and it's now 9:30pm. I had planned on this photo for a few days, thinking of the importance of this day and how I would memorialize it with the addition into the 365 Project. I was merely one year and five days old the day my mother was killed on April 8th, 1973 in a car accident. It's a very strange feeling, having no recollection or memory of the person who brought you into this life. Although I have a few stories of her and even some belongings my Grandmother still has to this day, there is no comfort in such loss. She was at the tender age of 21 when she was killed. Her birthday was July the 4th, 1951. This year she would have been 60. On one side of the coin, such sorrow and unfortunate turn of events. On the other, I was incredibly lucky to have been raised by her parents- two of the most giving people on earth. And for this I am forever grateful to them. They had eight children- seven boys, one girl. My uncles were like brothers to me. My father was never in the picture, another story in another book. I'm very, very fortunate to have been cared for by my Grandparents. I had a predominantly good upbringing in a close family, in spite of changes later in adulthood. It's also odd to think how you may have turned out being raised by someone else, even your own biological mother. Despite any hardships in life I feel I've somehow managed to keep an overall positive mental attitude for the most. I am glad to be who I am today. On another note, I must mention to my friends and family of Japeth Suslee that my heart is with you. I'm extremely saddened and mournful. Japeth and his father were very close to my family, mainly my uncle Randy and his family. I can recall the days growing up and watching Dave (Japeth's dad) and Randy race motocross back in the 70's and 80's. Japeth was younger than me and was always around, but we had became closer over the course of the past four years or so. Japeth was one of the first people I took a photo of when I got my camera in 2009! Always hold onto those photos, you never know just how important they may turn out to be. He was also very good friends with my cousin Nick (#153 of 365), who was killed in 2001. This has been a sad week indeed for me...
By the time I finish my first 365 Project, you will have learned much about me and my life...
Only natural light used here.
Want to be a part of my 365 Project and get your photo taken? Got an idea/concept? Contact me, Don't be shy! Let's create art!