The Biscuit and Gravy Capital of the World

I’ve been putting this off for a minute now but I’m feeling especially homesick today so I feel it’s as best a time as any to FINALLY do this. So, here we are. If you’ve been following me for the past month, you’ve probably seen that i’ve been on the road a lot. It’s essentially where I live, and where I live is where the road (and less cliché, my JOB) takes me. As of now, I’m in Florida and will be here until the end of this month (June as I type this, but who knows where I’ll be by the time this letter finds you). But before the beaches, before the yachts, before the lambos and everything that comes with the night life, my first taste of adventure was a much more familiar destination. My job took me to the state capital, Montgomery, Alabama.

Prior to this opportunity, I had a little over a thousand dollars to my name, my work was still just getting off the ground, my website (yes, the one you’re reading this from) was still a bit a ways away from completion, and I. Was. STRESSED. I was losing sleep, I was losing time, and at one point, I was losing MONEY. My options were very limited, but the only thing more focused than a man with nothing to lose is a man with EVERYTHING to gain. I packed my bags, said a prayer, and made the drive out. After a bit of a slow and might I add, CHAOTIC start, everything went from bad, to worse, to not so bad, to about the closest thing to perfect as I can get. And although the drive was NOT a short one, I found my time in the car feeling shorter and shorter the more I made that trek. Maybe it was the music, maybe it was my excitement, or maybe it was just me disassociating a bit before I went thru those doors again. But not in a bad way. Almost calming. Peaceful. Serene even.

As my work days got shorter, my nights got longer. I was working in a way I had never done before. Faster, more consistent, but the biggest difference is I wasn’t struggling to create or stressing out trying to do so. I was having FUN. The type of fun I hadn’t had since I first picked up a camera. And how fitting that this all came full circle, almost 6 years to the day that I got my first camera. I’d get one last chance to photograph MY home before moving on to a new one for the time being and honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I got to see art. I got to meet a GREAT crop of people, learn from some very well educated individuals, as well as eat some REALLY good food.

I loved everything that the city had to offer whether it was the smell of BBQ on every block or the hospitality of the people walking them, I cannot say enough good things about the city of Montgomery and that’s saying a lot because prior to my stay there, I didn’t even THINK to go there. But after practically living there for the better part of 2 weeks, I apologize. I wasn’t familiar with y’all’s game. But all jokes aside, I thank everyone that made my trip (even if I had the chance to drive home here and there in between) a safe and enjoyable one. Whether it be the people checking me into my room, people telling me good spots to go for grub, or even just speaking and holding a door open for me, thank you for making the kid feel at home even away from home. Thank you to Montgomery Fire and Rescue for making this project a successful one. And thank YOU for taking the time to listen to me ramble. I promise the support doesn’t go unnoticed. And to YOU, the city, although I’m not from here, I’m happy I got to see you and even happier to call you another home. I’ll be seeing you again very soon.

And to the nice couple I ran into, I’m a man of my word. Here’s your shout out. I hope this message finds you both well. Keep on keeping on. Before it’s all said and done, I hope our paths cross again. Until then, eat an extra piece of catfish for me. Cheers.