2020-21. A year of strange juxtapositions, hypocrisy, and incongruities if there ever was one. The year I settled into a new job in a new place, which was supposed to bring stability. But—we all know the story. And yet—landing a year-around job in late 2019 turned out to be an amazing stroke of luck. I was able to hole up in my apartment and worked a stable job while everything went to shit.

And still. Not everything went to shit. 2020 was also the year I met Rachel, a wonderful soul that somehow made her way that same year from Oregon. Incongruities. Who could have guessed I’d meet someone in the same year it was terrifying seeing people?

Which leads into me talking about photography. Speaking of seeing people, you won’t see any people in these photos (except for me, seen at right). I suppose that makes sense in a year in which seeing people was generally kind of terrifying. There is definitely a lot of evidence of people, however, in these photos. Items left behind in alleys. Stately homes seen from vacant lots. Or maybe signs of humans to come in newly bulldozed farm fields. Signs of life, but definitely at a distance. I’m not sure if these photos mean anything except for that. Quiet observations of the evidence of human existence in a new city from a distance.

Also, hey. Are you vaccinated yet?