I’m here. Last week at this time, I had just found out that I got the job. The last week in Lansing, I didn’t stress over leaving or what a big change was coming. I enjoyed what I was doing, and savored it. Now I’m sitting in an apartment, looking at Pileated Woodpeckers in the trees through big windows on an island.
Here on Mackinac Island, I’m a photographer for The Grand Hotel. I dress up and photograph happy people on vacation. I work under the hotel in the photo lab, developing film into family portraits. Then, I sell the photographs in the hotel lobby the next day.
I will have a small, quiet room right next to the woods in a few days. For now, I am staying in a deluxe suite with two bedrooms and a full bathroom. It’s spacious and quiet, with huge windows and lots of light. Oh, and the bed is gigantic. I sleep hard after work. The sunlight dances on blank walls and the puffy, white comforter on my bed.
I am encouraged to take days off work for mini-vacations, and take lots of pictures in my free time of the island. Soon, I’m going to climb to the top of the tallest hill and take pictures. Then I’ll ride around the island on my bike, sit on the beach, and hike around in the woods for a whole day.
I bought fresh drawing paper and black pens. I have my clarinet. It will be great to draw and play some music.
People here are another thing entirely. Most of them are foreign, and I love talking to foreigners. I’ve met two concert pianists and a chef.
I’ve heard talk about parasailing! I wonder if I can take my camera?
The other photographers are around my age, and seem like the kind of personalities I can appreciate. Two girls, Michelle and Sarah, are leaving on Monday. This weekend, I’m learning how to handle things when they’re gone.
The cafeteria food is not good. But, there is an endless supply of free coffee.
This morning, I sold portraits to families. Tonight, I’m learning the tricks of taking pictures of families. I hear it’s hard to frame the picture at first, so I’ll have to keep an eye on that. Sometimes I frame everything, though, with my eyes even when I don’t have a camera. I hope that habit will become useful.
I’m pretty tired, last night we (the photographers and a few foreign friends) drank some beers and had a good time. I had to get up very early, and stand around in bad shoes. No time for a nap, so I’m beat and going back in to work right now. Coffee!
It’s been a little cold up here. I live on a hill above the hotel, so the ride home everyday is up steep hills. But the ride down to work is great, I can go really fast. The smell of shit is inescapable. I love it.
The stars are so bright. Come look.
