YPlife

Photo credit: Robert Goldberg : )

One week later: 

As I walked out of the metro station and turned to face DC’s Chinatown, I put my hand on the camera bag that was hanging from my shoulder. My Dad let me borrow his Canon Rebel and I was terrified of loosing it. I started walking down the street to the Starbucks on 7th, right around the corner from WeWorks.  I checked my watch, I was a little early, and I was NEVER early. To me, this meant one thing, I was SUPER excited to be there. As I ordered my customary Grande Soy Chai Latte (something I could never imagine ordering now), an older man, probably early 60’s, with long hair, a funky Hawaiian shirt, a cane and a fedora walked up next to me as we waited for our orders.

“You must be a photographer?” He nodded over to the camera bag on my shoulder.

I laughed. “Not really.” I say as I adjusted the bag strap awkwardly. “I’ve never actually used this camera before. I am about to take my first photography class.”

“That’s great! I love photography!”

“Really? I think I am going to also!” I said as the barista put my latte right in front of me on the counter. I grabbed the drink, muttered a quick thank you to the barista and said goodbye to the older man.

I was feeling pretty good about my new found hobby as I crossed the street to the WeWorks. I saw one other person waiting. Before I had a chance to introduce myself, I heard “Are you guys both waiting for the Photography Class?” I’m Sam.  I will be your teacher!” I turned around and lo and behold look who it is, the older man from the Starbucks. He had the biggest grin on his face as he watched my surprised expression.

He unlocked the door and held it open for us.

“What kind of DSLR do you guys have?” he asked as he turned on the lights and gestured to the conference table.

“What is a DSLR?”  I asked as I pulled out my seat and sat down.

“You must be a beginner” he said with a knowing smiling.

“Is it that obvious?” I carefully took my dad’s camera out of the bag. To be honest, it was the first time I was using any kind of camera, besides my phone and the disposable ones that I absolutely adored back at Jewish Sleep away camp, which totally doesn’t count.

The rest of the class started filtering in behind us “Welcome to photography for beginners. Let’s get started, shall we?” And with that, class began.

One hour later, I walked out of WeWorks. One thing was brilliantly clear, my life had changed forever. I know, it sounds a little dramatic, but it is 100% true. I cannot even tell you what Sam said in that one hour class, I cannot tell you which buttons I pressed or what I photographed that day, but I can tell you that I thank G-d everyday that I found Sam’s class online.

As I walked towards the metro ready to head back to Silver Spring. I pulled out my phone and texted Marisa. “What would you say if I told you I want to be a photographer.” I stepped onto the insanely long escalator, put my phone in my pocket and adjusted the camera bag again and felt a new type of warmth and satisfaction. My adventure began and I didn’t even really know it.

To be continued…

Missed Part One? Check it out here: “How it all Began Part I”

Want to read part III?: Check it out here: “How it all Began Part III”

It’s 2am and I just got back to the one bedroom house in Philadelphia, I have your multi-colored sweater on as I roll my broken, purple suitcase into the living room. I look around, drop the handle and sigh. I am finally home. I thought I would be relieved, it felt like I had been traveling for days…instead, I felt complete and total awe by the adventure that we just went on together. I knew Paris was going to be amazing. I even half expected inspiring, but never did I think it was going to be like this.  With every step we took, every corner we turned and every expresso we sipped, I felt the weight of our every day lives melt off our shoulders and the only thing left was you, me and 100% bliss.

As I sit here in my big bed with the air conditioning you set up running next to me and the artwork you so carefully picked out, hanging across from me, all I can think about is that we did good. After all we have been through over the past few years, we did good. Really good. After one year of long distance, one law school degree, ten months of photo school, two graduations, three grandparents passing, one small business starting, two months of BAR prep, two days of the BAR exam and everything else that comes with being in your mid-20s, we made it through stronger and better than ever… and then we went to Paris.

Running around Paris with you felt like a dream. We spent the entire time learning new things, discovering old treasures and deepening our admiration for one another.  Paris was a reminder of the immensity of your presence in my life. You have become a part of who I am and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Your thirst for knowledge is infectious, your patience is angelic and your wittiness is something that even the biggest Seinfeld fan would approve of. So, as I sit here at 2am, unable to fall asleep, I cannot help but be proud of who you are as a person and who we are as a couple. Thank you for being my better half. The organic Peanut Butter to my Red Delicious Apple. The double espresso to my flaky croissant. The Robert to my Yael.