Some time has passed. Seven hundred and thirty days to be exact-I’d break it down into minutes but I don’t have the patience to write such a daunting number (it’s 1,051,200 minutes). The Golden Moment is two years old; the sun completing its second revolution. Some days crawl slower than others, and sometimes entire months pass before there is even a chance to say “Can you believe the year is almost over?”

But the end of the year is steadily approaching, and each December 4th-also my frat’s Founder’s Day (’06 to the good bros!),  I take a second to  remember where (and when) I started my  journey. I do this so I can measure the distance traveled, both from my starting point and towards my destination; I do this so I can attempt to chart my growth not only as a man, but as an artist as well; I do this because I’m stuck in nostalgia and often find myself reminiscing about days before. It’s been a challenging year, because the veil of ignorance no longer exists after the first year. There is no revert option when one gains experience, especially a year’s worth at that. But with each challenge presented this year, from the passing of a close family member to securing my dental hygiene license, I have gained something more than growth or experience; I have gained knowledge of my self. Now, I could sit here and write essays about this phenomenon ( head over to The Nuclear Cottage if you wish to read those), but since this is the Golden Moment, it’s more fitting that I express my sentiments through snapshots.

The Moments

This year I have been to both places old and new. From a summer music festival in NYC, the nation’s capital during testing political times, and to the corner of mainland U.S.A. These locations had an impact on me, however, it was the moments that make these places memorable. Whether it was rushing Franklin street after redemption night,  taking the stage at a national poetry competition, or expressing the grievances of the citizens in a city council meeting, these snapshots are some of my favorite moments from this year’s journey.

 

The Muses

These are certain individuals at a specific moment throughout this year that defined not only my portfolio, but my passion as well. Artists baring emotions on stage, protestors taking stance for their truths, day one homies, and even complete strangers who may never cross paths with again. I’ve done my best to capture them in their natural state, showcasing their authenticity as both a subject and, more importantly, a human being.

 

 

The Memoirs

Who have I been this year? Who have you been? Have things changed, were the successes worth the sacrifices? These images below are dedicated to the dynamics, the defining memories from this year.

 

 

2017 Reviewed

January

• Finalist in Jambalaya Soul Slam (1st Poetry Comp.)
• Shapeshifter (1st Horror Short Story)
• “Angor Animi” (Visual Poem)

February

• “30 Pieces of Silver” Music Video (Director)
• Encounter (Horror Short Story)

March

• “Inspirationist” (Visual Production)
• Henderson Wedding ( 1st Wedding Photography)

April

• A Series of Famous Last Words
• Smitten with Smitty (1st Wedding Videography)

May

• TERROR TUESDAY
• Gangrene (Horror Story)
• “Harmonies of Horror” (1st instrumental EP)

June

• “Samurai 17” (1st script)
• Jambalaya Soul Slam Winner + Rep for iWPS

July

• Learned first song on keyboard (“Organization XIII”)
• The Old Fashioned Unamerican Barn Burner
• “Anathema” Draft One Completed (Horror Novel)

August

• “What I Do” Music Video (Director/Writer)
• Caribbean Festival Coverage
• “The Dark Side” (1st Single + Music Video)

September

• Beats N’ Bars Festival (1st Music Fest Coverage)
• Jambalaya Soul Slam Winner

October

• Terror Tuesday!
• Individual World Poetry Slam (Ranked Top 50)
• Submitted “A Series of Famous Last Words” to competition
• Mr. Akiki (Horror Short Story)

November

• “Vindica” (1st Short Film)

Event Horizon

Some time has passed, and more time will continue to pass. Maybe it will be another year before you visit, maybe it will be another week, maybe this will be the last time you click the link in the bio. Regardless of the temporal distance between your visits, I hope that you grow. I hope that you develop whatever dreams you believe in. I wish this for each and every one of you who visited this page-and even those who have not-because you have done the same for me. Reaching this new stage, conquering the Terrible Twos, may have started out as a solo adventure, but now the journey has become a shared experience. It is universal; and ,I pray that our paths will cross as time continues to pass.