Here are the writings I have composed to exhibit in conjunction with my photographs:
Portrait of a Friend Run your fingers through his fur. Scratch the sweet spot behind his ears, which makes his head tilt and tail wag appreciatively. Forget about the frustrations, the arguments, the disappointments. Fall into those soulful brown eyes, the epitome of humanity. Choose to see the irony in that observation as not a shortcoming of your peers, but the transcendental nature of this beast. This moment is infinite. Sit, boy. Here. His eyes focus on your hand. His palpable anticipation amuses you. This is your symbiosis: feed him, give him shelter, throw a ball, and he eagerly and unconditionally loves you. You leave the house, live your life, and end the day with a creature whose whole life revolves around you. Appreciate the small things. The air outside is brittle and unforgiving. Find the perfect book, settle into the couch. He watches you from the kitchen door, eyes pleading. Come, boy. Pat the couch. He settles into the cushion with a deep sigh of contentment. Don’t tell Mom. Absentmindedly stroke the silky fur between his eyes. His presence warms you from the inside out. Seek what makes your heart smile. Domestic tasks do not pardon anyone. Roll up your sleeves, tackle the sink full of forks, knives, bowls, plates -- remnants of daily life. Consumption does not come without a price, whether in time or money. Lose yourself in the chore. A sound awakens you from the trance of monotony you have slipped into as you scrape and rinse and dry: the dog settling into a spot on the floor. He glances up at you, his tail swishing. You are never alone. The beast is not without his shortcomings. He prods the trash. His fur collects in the corners of the kitchen. He shakes dirt onto the mat after frolicking outside. He licks the floor; there was bacon earlier today. But these are manageable. Take the trash out. Sweep the floor biweekly. Brush the dirt out of his coat. Wash the mat. Mop the floor. The beast is invaluable; friendship is invaluable. Body in Place Escape reality, and immerse yourself in an alternate Universe of magic and wonder. Hazy afternoons become the backdrop for fantastical adventures. Quick, hold the cat (the Feline Protector) to your chest as you slide. Giggle as she turns her unblinking gaze upon your own. If cats could frown, she would be scowling. Swing -- rather, glide -- through the air. This swing set is the vessel for your daydreams of flying, of joining sparrows as they flit about. Tilt back your head as you hurtle back towards the earth; we fear not the height itself, but falling. The gauzy robe indicates your queenship: Graceful ruler of your beastly subjects. Trust these beings with your darkest fears and most massive hopes. Protect them from the perils of the world; the ground often morphs into roiling lava. Dance with your eyes closed, but sing with them wide open. Your audience, those trees, always lavishes you with a standing ovation. Show your sister how to forget the circumstances of that other dimension you reside in, the one with arguing parents and mean people and stressful sports. We will always have these moments, these hazy afternoons, for ourselves.
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