I sat in front of the Cookout on North Tryon as Kelsey told me that “nothing in this life is permanent” before we went our separate ways prior to the summer of 2012. That always stuck with me. Due to the temporary nature of things, we must learn to let go. As unnatural as letting go feels, it’s a part of a life in which we’ve conditioned ourselves to feel the opposite. Holding on, many times, is a direct product of having hope. I’ve learned that having hope in the wrong things (or people) is really hopelessness in disguise of insecurity. Insecure by self-perception of societal standards we all are, but certainly flawed by nature through the creation of our Gods/stars, which ever you may believe in.

I pray to the Gods and Goddesses I don’t believe in that the people in these planes make it home safely. Do Gods listen to people outside of their religions? It is my hope they do. I believe you can do good for those who don’t share the same beliefs as you, under the same belief that is acceptance. Life is precious. None of us chose to be here, yet where do we find ourselves? Can you believe we made it this far?! 

I was driving to Friday’s last Sunday to cash in on a special that they have going on for the whole summer. You can get a full-rack of ribs for 10 dollars, and it comes with two sides. That’s been my Sunday routine for the past couple of weeks. I got in my car to make this weekly pilgrimage. There was a concert at the PNC, so I had to take the back roads to get on to University. The sunset looked warmer than usual, so I decided to take a picture of it as I was driving. Not the safest thing to do, but what can I say? I’m still here, aren’t I?

Acrylic over spray paint on canvas | 24 in x 48 in | Signed and finger printed on bottom right hand corner | June 30 2016