Buh-bye Summer
Posted on Friday, August 26th, 2005 at 13:12.
Summer is officially over. As I left Harvard Technology Product Center on Friday for the last time on a regular work schedule, I walked through the Yard, grinned at the five distinct groups of Japanese tourists with various digital camera devices, and overheard yet another pretentious ideological debate about nothing tangible.
This is the end of summer. I have to tie up a few loose ends on Monday before Orientation Leader training begins on Tuesday. Then it’s a whirlwind two weeks before school. And then… school.
This summer did not seem like summer. I took a full semester load and worked part-time with Apple at Harvard. I had fun, just more work than fun, but I’m pretty sure that I crammed more fun into the weekend than work into the week.
A recap!
Two weeks after classes finished, The 24th Annual EVVY Awards took place. Production weeks were crazy. A whirlwind trip to San Antonio, TX to be Arthur’s sister’s friend’s date to her high school Senior Prom added to the excitement. Arthur and I danced for a few minutes before leaving Prom. Some macho guys were ready to Cowboy Up on us, which made the dance I wished I could have had in high school all the more special.
This was my last EVVY Awards as a major player. I will be involved in the 25th EVVYs, but I do not want to be a producer again. Some of this sentiment stems from me not winning the Best Website category. The EVVY Awards consumed so much of my time this year that I didn’t have much work to enter. I have worked too hard on this show to never win an EVVY myself. This cannot happen next year. I would much rather be involved creatively than manage people as a producer.
Adam, Bryan, & Ryan convened in Boston a week after The EVVY Awards. We had a gay ol’ time taking a Duck tour, eating at Quincy Market and Top of the Hub, cruising Downtown Crossing and Newbury, geeking out at the Apple Store, and jumping on an Emerson admissions tour. I love these guys! No matter how many amazing people I meet, these genuine guys will always mean the world to me.
Less than a year after shooting Mark & Kara Lamb’s wedding in Tampa, FL, I was shooting another wedding in the Lamb family. Jamie and her fiance Mark became one on June 18, 2005, and I was there capturing it all from three angles in widescreen. I *love* that Emerson allows students access to incredible equipment.
I have shot several weddings. Most pastors are more than accommodating to audio and video documentation. However, this pastor decided to be an ass. He refused to wear a lavaliere mic, threatened to pause the ceremony if I was visible on stage, and denied me and the bride from getting shots she desired. God needs better messengers than this man. And I had no problem telling him so after the ceremony.
After the ceremony and pictures, I was leaving with the Maid of Honor. As I was following her, someone called my name from behind. I kept walking forward, but the Maid of Honor stopped. I proceeded to unknowing take a step onto the trailing dress just as the Maid of Honor decided to start walking again. This tension resulted in a shrieking loud, but fortunately small and easily covered, rip. The Maid of Honor was chill, but I looked like a moron in front of the wedding party.
The wedding photographer decided that my day wasn’t bad enough. So during the reception, he physically shoved me out of his way when we were both trying to capture the same memories. I am not one to physically retaliate, but when the photographer pulled this stunt on the groomsmen and me during the cake cutting, the groomsmen were rallied and ready inflict pain upon the photographer.
But it gets even worse. I took two Sony PD-170 camcorders with me and reluctantly had to check my Apple Powerbook. The TSA x-rayed my suitcase, saw the laptop, opened my suitcase, dropped my Powerbook, placed it back in my suitcase without putting the clothing padding around it, left a note, and eventually told me they wouldn’t do a damn thing about the damage they caused.
This was the wedding from hell for me, but at least I didn’t get stranded in Florida because of a hurricane, like last time.
July 4th brought happier times. Arthur’s mom, step-dad, and sister flew up to Boston for a visit. We took a day trip to Rhode Island to visit the Newport Mansions, which were amazing.
No city does July 4th like Boston. We picnicked along the Charles all day to reserve a grassy spot from which we watched the nationally broadcast fireworks display. The Boston Pops with fireworks are an experience every American should partake in at some point. Ever cooler, CBS broadcasted off the roof of Emerson’s 100 Beacon St residence hall.
I took an important step in my life this summer when I told my family that I was gay. Truly, I think this step seemed bigger that it really was, but the announcement sure rocked Lynchburg. The trip also served as Arthur’s first experience to one of my home towns. We stopped by my high school, my mom’s grave, and my church.
This summer, I had two wonderful roommates: Sean and Keto. Sean was one of the first people I met at Emerson and we’ve been good friends ever since. Arthur & I met Keto through The EVVY Awards. She is probably one of the sweetest women alive and I enjoyed her domestic company (and her Japanese cooking skills).
Keto took Film 1 this summer. She developed a brilliant plot series and made the mistake of casting Arthur & me for her final project. All bias aside, she will probably win an EVVY for Best Film 1 this coming spring.
August brought many trips. The first trip was back to San Antonio, TX for Arthur’s grandparents’ 60th wedding anniversary. Arthur’s mom planned an incredible surprise fiesta, complete with mariachis, Mexican catering, and lots of crazy relatives. Arthur’s desire to stay one more day + a bad storm the next day resulted in me missing my ASL 2 exam, but thankfully my professor allowed me to complete another assignment upon return.
One wedding anniversary is never enough. So Arthur & I drove to my grandparents’ 50th wedding anniversary. Freshly outed, I was unsure how my larger family would react to Arthur’s presence. No one said anything to me, but what is unsaid often rivals what is.
I hadn’t been back to PA for a long time. I was reminded of how time stays still for no one. This was the first interaction with my cousins that wasn’t like when we were kids. This was my first time visiting since my cousin Brett died. This was my first visit since finding out my cousin Ashley has cancer and a child. This was the first visit where I didn’t get to see my cousin Matt because he was in the hospital suffering from cystic fibrosis. Life is so short and so difficult.
My next flight took me back to San Antonio for the screening of Barang, Arthur & Cary’s documentary on Western influence in post-Vietnam Cambodia. Barang is easily one of the most professional works to come out of Emerson and I am thrilled to have been a part of it. The screening was a huge success on many levels.
So that’s summer 2005. Time does not allow me to recount every amazing experience. I am thankful to be surrounded by so many loving people, places, and opportunities. Dinners with Jess Reynoso, Jess Miller (and sister, friends), Lucinda & her mom, Cary Bell, Keto’s mom, and others are cherished. Emersive projects and new professional undertakings built new career steps. Life moved a bit faster and I felt more adult than I ever have before.
