A MOMENT WITH ALYESKA

It took me longer than I expected to get out of the cemetery. I wandered the grounds for days. I walked past broken headstones. I passed faded and forgotten names: these were once mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, and children. It was a grim reminder of what’s to come and the vicious cycle of life. Indeed, these were once people who loved and were loved. There’s no doubt that at those eulogies many a voice swore that the newly departed would not be soon forgotten, yet, who remembers Sarah, Joseph, or Carolyn? Who lays a flower upon the grave of young Stephen, born 1846 and died 1848? I realize that this will soon be me, and who will mourn for Jo Cose 100 years hence? I am reminded of Pozzo’s exclamation that “they give birth astride a grave, the light gleams an instant, then it’s night once more.” The only thing that would complete this macabre melancholy into which my current environs have hurled me would be the appearance of a shiny, black raven, whose single utterance of “nevermore” would peck deeper into my chilled heart than his razor-sharp beak could into my mortal flesh.

Fortunately, I am saved from spiraling out of control to the only possible outcome, and a lifeline appears in the form of a messenger with a telegram:

YOUR SERVICES ARE NEEDED ASAP STOP REPORT TO AIRPORT AT YOUR EARLIEST STOP TICKET WAITING TO TAKE YOU DOWN EAST STOP

I have no idea who sent the telegram, what will await me Down East, or how this young messenger on a bicycle found me in the middle of the cemetery, but I was grateful that she was willing to show me the way to the airport. As the telegram predicted, a ticket was waiting for me upon my arrival, and I couldn’t help but feel that I was no longer in control of my destiny. Nevertheless, as the plane climbed into the beautifully peaceful blue northern sky, I could feel my spirits lifting as we ascended to 50,000 feet above this small, insignificant Blue Marble that we call home.

I fell asleep and didn’t wake up until we began our descent, whereupon I discovered that I was refreshed and ready to face this new adventure. After disembarking and getting my luggage, I saw an older man in a chauffeur’s hat and a sign that read “Jo Cose” I dutifully followed my driver to the waiting car, and we drove and drove. The road we were on narrowed down to a country lane, and as I looked upon the passing houses, I noticed the architecture—Colonial, Georgian, Federal, Greek Revival, all sitting side-by-side—that is so unique to this area of the country. The Widow’s Walk atop each house in which countless wives looked seaward in the hopes of spying their captain-husbands’ ships returning, sitting low in the water with their bellies full of fresh fish, whale oil, or seal skins. How smooth were the floorboards from the centuries of pacing women? How warped were those same boards from centuries of tears?

As the houses began to thin, and the grass turned to reeds, and the land turned marshy, we made a right onto a little dirt road and wound our way to the shore where an old decrepit wharf stuck into the Atlantic Ocean like a finger accusingly pointing to the sea as if to say, “You! You are the cause of so much grief and heartache.” As I stepped out of the car, I could once again smell the salt in the air, see the foam of the ocean, and taste the longing to return to the water—a magical place where time seems to slow and cares are washed away on the surf with the phosphorescence.

Around me lay a tranquil and idyllic landscape. To my left a few miles up the coast stood a well-built and proud lighthouse, a symbol of an almost forgotten time when seamen relied more on instinct and courage to beat Mother Nature’s fury than technology and gadgets. Closer to the wharf, a few sailboats were anchored offshore, and a little red tugboat lay at the wharf, waiting for the call to assist a ship over the bar. At the end of the pier were two chairs. I made my way down the wooden structure, and sat down next to Alyeska. It seemed I’d discovered who I would be interviewing next. We sat in silence a few minutes longer, drinking in the majesty of the vista before us. Finally, I turned on the tape recorder and began to get to know Alyeska a little better.

JC: Let’s begin with my usual beginning point: could you please describe yourself in 15 words or less.

A: Ohhh gosh. I’d say artistic, creative, funny, klutzy, caring, understanding, a good friend.

JC: And what product’s slogan best describes you?

A: “Takes a licking, but keeps on ticking,” you know, Timex

JC: I’m curious about your username.

A: I got it from my favorite place to ski, in Girdwood, Alaska. The Alyeska Resort…best powder I ever saw.

JC: Where were you from?

A: I was born in Hyannis, Massachusetts, grew up here, and after high school, I went to Ringling School of Art in Sarasota, Florida. I moved back to the Cape for a time, then Boston, London, and Austin. I came back to the Cape about 11 years ago, and I currently live about 12 miles from Hyannis.

JC: And for the eligible folk here on YPF, what about some vitals?

A: I’m single. No kids. One very loveable sweet cat named Max.

JC: I see. So that leads to the next logical question for the creepy stalker-types we seem to attract here, what’s your sign, baby?

A: Leo, and it suits me well.

JC: What was the first camera you ever owned?

A: A Kodak Brownie that my grandfather gave me when I was about 6 years old. That was followed by a Polaroid Swinger, an instamatic, and then my first SLR—an Argus, which I still have.

JC: What’s your current setup?

A: Currently I have a Canon 400D with the kit lens, the EF 28-135 IS, and the EF 70-300 IS, a couple of extra batteries, UV filters, PC filters and tripod, a Tamrac Expedition 6 case. I also have my Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ3 and a few filters for that as well (now my backup camera).

JC: That’s some serious stuff you got going there. How did you get into photography?

A: First time around, when I was a child, my grandfather got me interested in it. I shot pretty steadily and often until life took over, and the cost of processing got to me. Most recently, I bought the Panasonic in February 2005, and it’s reawakened my love of photography.

JC: Who’s your favorite photographer?

A: Ohhh gosh. That’s so hard to answer. I guess I’ll have to say Ansel Adams and Diane Arbus for two totally different reasons.

JC: How did you happen upon YPF?

A: Chiller invited me to join.

JC: If you could go anywhere in the world to take your ultimate picture, where would it be, and what would it be a picture of?

A: I would have to say wildlife in Alaska. I wish I had owned a digital camera the times I was there.

JC: As a way to steer the conversation away from photography for a few minutes, what other hobby most consumes you?

A: Kayaking, I took up the sport about 8 years ago and can’t get enough of it. It’s almost as expensive and consuming as photography. I find it to be a very Zen sport, very peaceful and it brings me back in touch with nature and myself.

JC: What are you currently reading?

A: Marley & Me by John Grogan…I’m laughing so hard my sides hurt.

JC: Who has most inspired you in life?

A: I’d have to say my mother. She raised me—as a single parent—in a time when single parents were not the norm. She taught me strength and purpose.

JC: Here’s another one of my staples: if you could invite anyone, alive or dead, real or fictional, to dinner, who would it be, where would you go, and what would you have to eat?

A: I’d invite my friend Heidi who passed away 5 years ago after fighting cancer for 7 years. We’d go to Cook’s Fried Seafood and stuff ourselves silly with fried clams. We’d laugh and cry and promise to do this again when we’re old ladies.

JC: You say in your profile that you love to cook. What do you cook best?

A: I think my best dish is Linguini with White Clam Sauce.

JC: What do you cook worst?

A: I don’t do too well cooking hamburgers.

JC: And what would you love to cook if you could, but can’t?

A: I’d love to be able to cook a roast suckling pig, but I don’t have a large enough oven or grill for it.

JC: We all have talents, skills, and abilities that we are exceptionally good at. If you had the opportunity to write a chapter in a book, what would it be on?

A: Funny you ask that, I’m currently writing a book. It’s a humorous view of my neighbors…in the style of the late Erma Bombeck.

JC: Alright, now’s the point in the interview where we get to everyone’s favorite: games. Let’s start with Word Association. How about Flower?

A: Spring.

JC: Rain?

A: Cozy.

JC: Film?

A: Camera.

JC: Camera?

A: Lens.

JC: JonMikal?

A: Amazing photographer.

JC: YPF?

A: Best forum.

JC: Computer?

A: Pain in the butt.

JC: Tree?

A: Leaves.

JC: Boston?

A: Red Sox.

JC: Tea Party?

A: Scones.

JC: New England?

A: Patriots.

JC: Yellow Pages.

A: My first job.

JC: Let’s try some favs. How about food?

A: Seafood.

JC: Song?

A: Winter Song by Chris Rea.

JC: Band?

A: The Rolling Stones.

JC: TV show?

A: “The Sopranos.”

JC: Movie?

A: Casablanca.

JC: Musical?

A: The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

JC: City?

A: Austin

JC: Country?

A: USA.

JC: Radio station?

A: 107.5 FM, WFCC.

JC: Restaurant?

A: The Paddock, in Hyannis, MA

JC: Book?

A: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand.

JC: Movie star?

A: Katherine Hepburn.

JC: Flower?

A: Hydrangea.

JC: How about a few either ors? Let’s start with photography: digital or film?

A: Digital.

JC: Stick or automatic?

A: Stick.

JC: Pen or pencil?

A: Pen.

JC: LP or CD?

A: CD.

JC: Dining in or eating out?

A: Both as long as food is involved.

JC: Cinema or video?

A: Video.

JC: Nikon or Canon?

A: Canon

JC: Mac or PC?

A: PC.

JC: Jo Cose or JonMikal?

A: Even King Solomon couldn’t make that choice.

JC: Firefox or IE?

A: IE.

JC: Coffee or Tea?

A: Tea.

JC: Coke or Pepsi?

A: Coke.

JC: What do you do for a living?

A: I’m temporarily retired. I took a leave of absence from my job, as a project director for a hotel management company, which specialized in restoring classic hotels, to care for my elderly mother. It’s been a learning experience and very rewarding. I do miss my former work—especially the income—but I wouldn’t change things for the world. I do look forward to someday returning to the working world, maybe doing something new.

JC: What’s your fantasy job?

A: I’d love to be able to travel and work as a photographer…wow, that would be amazing.

JC: What’s your dream vacation?

A: I’d love to buy a big RV and travel to all the National Parks in North America, photographing all I can find.

JC: Nice segue back into photography. Tell us, what’s your favorite picture you’ve ever taken?

A: Ohhh gosh…I guess it’d have to be this one here. It’s an oldie. I shot it when I first bought my Panasonic. I found this funky pink and yellow dingy—I haven’t seen it since. Been back there many times looking to re-shoot it.

JC: What’s the crazies/dumbest/most dangerous thing you’ve ever done to get a shot?

A: I guess it was standing on the edge of a crumbly cliff here on the outer cape to get a shot of the surf. It was just OK, I’ve taken better shots.

JC: If you could be the admin for YPF for one day, what changes would you make?

A: I can’t think of a thing, I like it the way it is.

JC: What’s your favorite thing to take pictures of?

A: The beach, shoreline, water, birds…

JC: What in photography do you think you’re the best at?

A: Landscape.. I don’t do well with people photography.

JC: What do you think you most need work on in your photography?

A: I would say it’s exposure; I need to learn more in that area.

JC: What’s something in photography you’ve never tried but would love to?

A: I’d love to try underwater photography.

JC: What is it about photography that has made a hobby?

A: It’s reawakened my artistic side, I went to art school in the 1970s and put my art aside to make a living. Now that’s coming back to me full force, and I am trying to figure out where I can put a studio in my home.

JC: Finally, I like to end the interviews with the opportunity for you to offer whatever insight into life you may have, for posterity.

A: Shoot first, ask questions later.

With that, I shut off the tape recorder, thanked Alyeska for spending a wonderful afternoon with me, and leaned back in my chair to listen to the sound of the surf lapping against the beach. After what felt like an eternity just sitting there with my ears filled with the sirens’ song of the sea, I forced myself to stand up and, as I stretched, I saw that a bottle had washed up on the shore. Feeling self-consciously like Gordon Sumner, I made my way down to the beach, sure that the message in that bottle would lead me to my next interview.