I get up just in time when I wanted, to fetch the new lenses for my camera. I know what Jim would say,"Don't get too excited! Remember to keep them clean!" That's what he always says when I go to him for new lenses.
I clean myself up and run to the ground floor of my apartment. It's almost 9. I'm supposed to meet Jim at 9:30. I start cycling.
I stop on a red light. I look around, everyone's so busy, with work, with children, with themselves! The lights are green now, the busy people start moving their cars, i'm just gonna move too.....no I can't, there's this stupid girl who just bumped on my wheels.
"What the....", the girl says looking at me, it's Alex, a friend of mine with whom I went to high school and college,"Oh, hey Leah! What's up!"
"Hey, Alex! I was going to Jim's. Where are you heading?" I ask her.
"I was going to your place, but I guess now, I'll just head to Jim's shop too!"
People on the road have already started to yell on me to get off the road. So I say,"Meet you there!" And start cycling.
I would have offered her a ride. But it's a cycle I'm riding not a Mercedes!
Anyway, it's not that I hate her. It's also not that I like her that much! I get back on cycling without further thinking. I'm really excited for those lenses and no old college friend can ruin that feeling!
I park the cycle in front of "SAY CHEESE" sounds more like a restaurant but it's Jim's shop.
"Every time I look at your shop's name, I feel like giving you a high five on face." I say.
"That's so thoughtful of you, girl!" Jim says,"Every time I see your face, I feel like saying,'SAY CHEESE',"
"Not funny," I grin,"You gotta change that name!"
"That's so much process, girl. I ain't got no time."
"Just say it, you like it so much, you'll die if you change it!" I say. It is the truth. He took a lot of ideas from a lot of us to name his shop and then came up with THIS stupid name he says he kept,"combining all our ideas"! We never bought it!
"Okay enough of that, dude. Gimme those lenses!" I say.
"Yeah. I better tell you, don't get too excited with those babies!...." He starts his same old speech.
"Keep them clean always!" I finish his quote,"I know."
"Remember to keep them clean." He finishes,"that's the way to say it!"
"Yeah, right! Now give me those lenses, black dude!"
He hands me those shinning new beautiful lenses,"Here you go, racist b-word!"
I smile. He smiles.
"Your eyes are shining like stars! You like these very much! Huh!"
"They're my life!" I say.
"Live it up girl! He smiles and hugs me.
"How's your work on Laney's shoot going?" I ask.
"Well, quite nice..." He gives a bland smile.
"Stop lying, Jim. You suck at it!"
"What? How did you know?"
"Faces! I'm good with reading! Especially someone I know this closely!"
"Yeah, so i lost the contract....I wanna forget it."
"Okay, so let's change the topic!" I sat,"Guess who I met today, Alex Mills!"
He whistles up,"Woah!"
"She said she's coming here too!" I say.
"Oh boy!"his eyes almost pop out,"she's coming here?!"
"Yeah! She wanted to meet me for some reason!" Someone calls Jim.
"Sit here, girl," he says,"be right back!" I sit down and look around.
Photography is my life. I can't live without a camera on my hand, locking in all sorts of emotions and things in my camera. I can't imagine my life without a camera on my hand! I feel so calm and so like....myself when I'm taking pictures.
I sometimes do face problems when no one needs a photographer. Cause, the profession is not a regular one. But I can't stop doing what I do and find a new profession away from my passion! I love what I do! I don't have any parents. Mom died two years ago. I have a sister who's lives with her husband in Seattle. I miss her sometimes but let's say I'm just used to staying I isolated.....away from people and gossip, with my camera on my hand. So, not a big deal!
So, I, 27 years old Amelia Johnson, am happy with my life and whatever I have and do. It's my PERFECTLY IMPERFECT life! And I love it.