The here and now... and what and why

Complacency is a trap. At least that’s what I was thinking when I up and left the comfort of a Yankee prep school gig, where I taught music, amongst other things, for 28 years. There was also that life long career as a composer, musician and artist.

First, it was a year in St. Thomas, USVI, working as a reporter and shooting photography and then, a year in San Agustin Etla, Oaxaca, Mexico.
Time passed.
More time passed and a year back in the Athens of America followed by a hasty return to Oaxaca where it is all happening.
A couple of years in San Sebastian Etla and now, just down the road in San Pablo Etla. Life is good.

Click on an image to see it larger.
For additional photography please visit my flickr page.
You can find my music on Jango (World & latin - Worldbeat) and at iTunes and most online stores.
¡Soy consciente de todas las tradiciones del Internet!
If you are coming to Oaxaca, please contact me for tours or advice.

Santo Domingo

Santo Domingo
The view from Corazon del Pueblo

The hereafter re me

My photo
Oaxaca, Oaxaca, Mexico
Musician, photographer, videographer, reporter, ex-officio teacher, now attempting to be a world traveler

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Some thoughts....


Virginia's family is from Veracruz, so they were even less familiar with Zapotec traditions than I am.  After all, I just shot another wedding a month or two ago, but there is so much to learn.  For instance, there were close to 300 people at the wedding and fiestas.  There are countless benedictions and ceremonies in which every person individually blesses the couple and shakes the hand of every other person in the room, all by gender and age.  I was much more comfortable this time taking part.  As I arrived, I paid my respects to the men and shook hands with all of them as they stood or sat in long lines.  When it was time to leave, I did the same to all the men and women, literally hundreds of people.  To lose one's inhibitions about such things is exhilarating.  I can't describe the feelings I had as I shook hands, said a few words and made eye contact with so many people.  People would break into the warmest smiles as I, an outsider, acknowledged their traditions.  It is all about respect.  Plus, people were so nice to me, I woke up this morning still floating on air.

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