We are in week 2 of m-f training here at Estadio Olímpico. This place is huge! Rio and I both got lost yesterday. He was in one place with the trainer and the other kids, and I was in another place. I decided to take a seat on a bench near a guy who was getting a full body massage on a table, on the sidewalk. I do not have a picture of that, imagine that open air massage. I choose that spot as I thought of safety and sort of close to where I thought Rio was. I eventually did find him, he was running in the track and field area. But then I lost him again, so I decided to stay put. We are in communication via the app What’s app. So no worries, but back to the point this place is huge and it is primarily a guy’s world here.

While sitting on the bench, a wee one also sitting, maybe 2 or 3 years old, started crying. He is the son of the massage therapist? Three young men were walking by and in typical Dominican fashion, one young man started talking to the little kid in the sweet, con cariño, way that everyone here talks to little people, or anybody for that matter. The three young men sat down between me and the little kid. And so began the conversation with these two.

In that moment I felt a bit off because I was not in sight of my son. That feeling dissipated after I started talking to these guys. They are training for the Olympics in track and field. I am not sure how old they are. Wilfry runs 800 meters and Ferdy 400. I enjoyed our conversation as I always enjoy meeting new people. I think you know this by now. I am and feel vulnerable as I am in the huge new place basically with all men. And these kids are vulnerable as they are young and ready to take on the world- naive? When I say vulnerable I don’t mean crippled with fear. Who wouldn’t be vulnerable in a new place, mostly men and in a country speaking a different language? Equally who wouldn’t be vulnerable chasing dreams at a young age. There is power and vulnerability in both those positions. Outside of meeting up in the same place we, me and these 2 guys, have nothing in common. They asked me if I was an athlete. Ha. Well, I trained for a marathon twice, that is called giving birth naturally. But no I am not an athlete.

I wasn’t 100% myself yesterday, my day started with a highly caffeinated coffee. It has been months since I had a coffee like that. So I did not think with a photo/documentary mind and didn’t take a picture of the guys. I was so angry with myself. Today in an effort to find them and take their picture because I want to remember them, I found these two running the track. Awesome and inspirational. To my surprise the boys found me! They wanted to say hi. Which this moment had me dancing inside with joy. Simple things in life can make me happy. I am trying to not cry as I write this.

In another blog post I want to talk about where and with who my photographic career started. My heart has always had a sweet spot for boys and it took me years to understand why.