Bob Stevens “Plywood” 06/06/20 There have been times when I’ve documented life around me. Most of this type of photography occurred at the beginning of my career. That perfect 20/20 tool of Hindsight tells me that when I began to take off as a professional, that sort of photo foray seemed less important and..hey…I was busy. Successful even, so I unconsciously drifted into a pattern of shoot and get paid. Oh, let’s do more of that! Isn’t this what I wanted. Yessss!!!! This week and last, jolted me into seeing the toxic reality that was festering under the surface of my comfortable life. I’ve been hunkered down like many, and with the violence threatening even my white enclave at the beach, I confess to being scared. I felt powerless, and somewhat chagrined, that the prior me had become so detached from my true values and principles. What had happened? Suck-cess, that’s what, and defined in the most narrow ‘me first’ way. As I drove through my hometown(s) this morning, I was shocked (why was I?) to see so many small businesses boarded up. Some were bravely trying to move past this malignancy by opening in the smallest ways. Baby steps. Writing this, I am humbled by the power of a simple click and the data that is reported and collected. I vow to get back out in the world going forward and to not only see, but record.