Billie

 
“Don’t let anyone kick dust on your sparkle.”
— Billie

Writing, words, books are a big part of Billie’s makeup. The evidence of this is ceiling to floor bookcases outlining her apartment like wall to wall carpet. Stuffed full of books, some stacked neatly, others piled on top of piles, or place wherever they might fit. Like every good book lover Billie said, “I will never stop buying books; I love them!” I personally worked in a bookstore and accumulated a large collection of books, so I can appreciate her love of books and the desire to be surrounded by them! Within minutes of arriving at her apartment, Billie was eager to show me she her most prized picture. My curiosity was peaked, we weaved through more book shelves, until we arrived at her destination, a picture of her favorite author, Ernest Hemingway. Billie’s pride spilled over: “I love my picture of Ernest Hemingway! I love how he wrote. I read For Whom the Bell Tolls and ever since then I was hooked.” I asked her: “what is it about Ernest Hemingway, what is it that you love so much?”  Billie replied: “I seem to pick out really scuzzy heroes; they always appeal to me. What I love about Ernest Hemingway is that he didn’t care what people thought of him.”

 

Billie’s apartment is like a gallery of her life and what is important to her. Her bookcases, her art collection, her kitchen full of cookbooks, all allow Billie’s adventurous spirit to pour through as she pursues and satisfies her many interests and talents. As a photographer in this adventure, I am always looking for intriguing way to set up a picture and figure out what will be included in the shot. It became obvious to me that the picture of Ernest Hemingway, Billie’s “scuzzy hero”, needed to be in our picture, having her sitting with her gorgeous bookcases as the backdrop also a must. Billie is a lover of poetry and writes poetry everyday. Billie writing poetry, her books, her Ernest, I couldn't think of a picture more perfect to capture Billie’s heart and soul. She thought when she moved into Christian Care and simplified her life, she would have all this time pursue another passion, her love of painting. But she has been too busy having fun! Perhaps we will meet again for pictures and she will be sitting in front of an aisle, showing us her art! With Billie, the best thing to do is not underestimate her passion for life!

Heidi Wagner