Hello!
Thanks for stopping by to check out week 8 of “111 Faces of Klamath Falls.”
Lena - 22
Lena - 22/111
Q: What’s something that brings you delight?
A: “My family!”
Q: What’s something great about yourself? (a trait or accomplishment)
A: “Being known for my beadwork.”
Q: Is there a problem for which you have a solution?
A: “Healthy living is the solution to dealing with pain.” Lena went on to explain that whether it’s physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual pain, we can help heal ourselves through healthy eating, exercise and self care.
Q: What’s your life’s dream/goal, and how are you working towards it?
A: “I want to continue to help my people.”
Lena feels blessed to work for the Tribe. “The more I can do for my people, the more I can help my community, Lena added.
Q: How would you like to be remembered? (personal legacy statement)
A: “I want to be remembered for the help I’ve given to people.”
Cassandra - 23
Cassandra - 23/111
Q: What’s something that brings you delight?
A: “My family….watching my kids grow up to be young men, and seeing them succeed.”
Q: What’s something great about yourself? (a trait or accomplishment)
A: “I think that I’m one of the most forgiving people ever. Someone can treat me wrong and I’ll still forgive them,” Cassandra said. “I’m ridiculously loving and forgiving to a fault,” she added. Cassandra went on to explain that no matter how poorly someone has treated her or wronged her, she won’t allow herself to hate them. “We can’t have hate for them or we’ll become hateful, she said. Cassandra summarized, “I’m Bob Marley trapped in a woman’s body…just spread love.”
Q: Is there a problem for which you have a solution?
A: Cassandra identified a problem that we have in smaller rural towns is that we don’t have enough organizations, groups, and clubs that will help our youth. She would like to see more youth organizations and services that will help fill the gaps for single parents, or families where both parents are working or absent for whatever reason. She envisions a program or organization that not only provides recreational activities and fun, but is also a source of life skills.
Q: What’s your life’s dream/goal, and how are you working towards it?
A: “My dream job is to work with youth who are struggling with life, but I’m not anywhere close to that yet.” Cassandra explained that right now, her focus is on providing for her family, raising her kids, and giving them a good life. After her kids are grown, then she’ll focus on herself and a new career.
Q: How would you like to be remembered? (personal legacy statement)
A: “I want to be remembered as the woman who never gave up. No matter what obstacle comes my way, I always seem to overcome it…usually alone.” Cassandra added, “I’m strong and independent, but also I’m the person who would give you the shirt off my back if you’re cold.”
I know this to be true. Cassandra is as solid as they come.
Phyllis - 24
Phyllis - 24/111
Q: What’s something that brings you delight?
A: “Kayaking!”
It took all my self-restraint not to invite myself to become Phyllis’ new kayaking buddy. (At least a time or two!)
Q: What’s something great about yourself? (a trait or accomplishment)
A: “I was a great Mom, and I’m an incredible Grandma!”
Phyllis has 4 kids and a dozen grandkids!
Q: Is there a problem for which you have a solution?
A: “The biggest problem in society today is division amongst Americans. If we could agree that we are all Americans, and that we all love America, it would go a long way toward healing the divide.” Phyllis added, “we’re all Americans no matter if you’re right or left.”
Q: What’s your life’s dream/goal, and how are you working towards it?
A: Phyllis’ goal right now is retirement. Working at Ross Ragland now, is helping her cross that finish line. She’s eager to retire so she can spend more time with her Grandkids, her dogs, and of course…she’ll spend more time kayaking!
Q: How would you like to be remembered? (personal legacy statement)
A: “I would like to be remembered as someone who actively served our community…anything community oriented, I’m usually involved.” Phyllis likes to help and serve in any capacity she can, whether it’s volunteering, fundraisers, or even just as a participant in community events. Phyllis was the president of the Blues Society for a while, and has been active in the music scene for years. In addition to her community service, Phyllis added that she want’s to be remembered “for being a Mom and Grandma, and raising my kids to be good citizens…all my kids are awesome!”
Lena, Cassandra, and Phyllis - thank you for being in the project!
Just a quick realization I want to share with you…
I found myself getting annoyed with all the filters on Instagram and TikTok the other day. When I process photos, I tend to keep things quite minimal and as close to real life as possible. I mainly only adjust or correct for: crop, white balance, tone, exposure, contrast, and sometimes minor color saturation adjustments. (unless working in B&W which I love, and don’t look closely, but I also used a spot edit tool in this post.) When I deliberately try to process a photo to look more “filtered” or “Instagram-y,” or to match this current “aesthetic” of our time, I always end up reverting back to the more organic version of the photo. I love other photographer’s images that have that certain aesthetic, but I just can’t seem to embrace it for my own images. That’s just my style, I suppose. My style is not having a style, except for trying to capture a subject’s sparkle as authentically as possible. It’s a little funny when I think about it now, but I was actually getting pretty frustrated the other day as I was processing one subject’s photos. I really wanted to experiment and achieve the “instagram-y/filtered/modern aesthetic, but I just couldn’t accept it. It looked and felt wrong to me. I caught myself saying out loud in frustration, “LIFE ISN’T FILTERED!!!”
The thought that ‘life isn’t filtered’ stuck with me for a while. I was so wrong! LIFE IS FILTERED and it should be. WE ARE FILTERED!
We can live with a filter of gratitude. We can live with a filter of delight. We can filter with the assumption of good intent of others. We can live with a filter of hope and optimism. We can live with a filter of empathy and compassion. We can live with a filter of forgiveness. We can live with a filter of appreciation and wonderment. We can live with a filter of tolerance and understanding. We can live with a filter of patience. We can live with a filter of love.
Ok. Let’s layer on those filters...