Florida, In a Blink, Many Memories

Florida, In a Blink, Many Memories


My trip to Florida this weekend was determined a few years ago when our family lost my Uncle Gilbert, and more recently, the loss of another uncle, Uncle "Jessie." Shanti and I drove overnight on a Friday and into Saturday for a ceremony to celebrate their lives. Our time in Tampa - only just a few hours on Saturday followed by an 11 hour return trip to North Carolina on a Sunday - imprinted a lifetime of memories in my mind. It was my purpose to photograph our family's reunion, but a heavy heart made it difficult to commit. I found solace in the hours after the ceremony to take photos of what used to be my home and again capture my Florida's beauty. Our day on Saturday ended just like many others when our families would leave a beautiful sunset behind us from a long day at the beach. Watching that sun setting on the drive home was like leaving the beach for the last time with my uncles. On Saturday we said our final goodbyes. As I watched that sun set into that beautiful Florida sky I felt as if I was leaving the beach that one last time, except without my uncles. I miss my home. I miss my uncles.