CATEGORY: MY FAMILY
WHERE: Soviet Union
WHEN: 1941-44
AGE: Before my time.

My maternal grandfather was an illiterate, deaf-mute cobbler. During World War II my mother and her family where evacuated in trains from Kiev east toward Central Asia. My grandfather took with him his portable shoe repair kit. Because he was mute and could not advertise his services vocally, during stops he would set-up his kit, pick-up one of their own shoes and start fixing it. Within minutes people came to have their shoes fixed. Shoes, and specially soles, wear out fast during times like those. Because money was not a popular currency during war, he got paid with food. My mother said that thanks to her father’s skill and the tools of his trade, they ate well throughout the war.

She also described bombing of trains she was on, people running from a burning train, while german airplanes strafed them with machine guns.

My plate is my canvas.

My brother Mark took these shots in Sierra Nevada. One at sunrise, the other at sunset.

CATEGORY: AUTO ACCIDENTS
WHERE: Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
WHEN: Daytime, Summer, 1990
AGE: 37 years old

The temperature was all the way into the 70’s. A major heat wave by Alaskan standards. I was feeling drowsy and decided to pull over to wake myself up. The next thing I became aware of was my Subaru Brat plummeting through bushes and small trees. And then there was a BIG tree. In my confusion I stepped on the gas pedal. Thank God I had a heavy brush guard on the front of the car. The tree was not hurt much.

My brain must have done some serious rock-n-roll inside the skull, because instead of staying with my mortally wounded chariot, I hitchhiked to the nearest town to call the police. By the time I got back, the state trooper was already having my car towed. They had to winch it up to the road. The trooper made jokes, I felt hurt by his attitude. He gave me a ticket.

PS: I had no serious injuries, but my Brat was totaled. When I asked the judge if I wasn't punished enough already, he reduced the amount of my ticket. I said: "But I didn’t hurt anybody." He said: "But you could have." I did not respond then, but later thought that if we punished people for what they might have done, everyone would be in prison.

CATEGORY: AUTO ACCIDENTS
WHERE: Culver City, California
WHEN: Daytime, Summer, early 80’s
AGE: approx. 30 years old

The motorcycle was traveling at such speed, that by the time I saw it, it was too late. I stopped at a stop sign and was making a left turn when he hit me. He was a 15 year old boy, wearing only shorts and sandals. No helmet. No driver’s license. He borrowed the bike to go just a few blocks. The police later estimated his speed at 60-70 miles per hour. In a residential neighborhood. The front wheel of the bike hit my Datsun just a few inches behind driver’s seat. Lucky me. The rear door and the frame caved in. The boy flipped over my car and rolled on the pavement. I had to climb out through the passenger door. When police came I was mumbling: If only I did this, if only I did that. The cop suggested that I say nothing.

PS: Miraculously, the boy had only scraped his knees and elbows.

Some time later, the owner of the motorcycle called me and said: " When are you going to pay for my bike?" I said: "When you pay for my car." I never heard from him again.

I was still able to drive the Datsun and later sold it "as is" to a struggling actor.

My dark side.
Photo taken by Rembrandt and Van Gogh.

CATEGORY: AUTO ACCIDENTS
WHERE: Dallas, Texas
WHEN: Evening, Fall, 1975
AGE: 22 years old

The major intersection had only a YIELD sign. I was late for school and didn’t see it. I was driving my 1966 Chevy Chevelle and was probably speeding. I saw it coming, in slow motion. Loud noise of my squealing brakes. I broadsided a large black Cadillac. I wasn’t wearing a seat belt. My door was jammed and I had to force it open with my feet. My knee was in pain when I climbed out. I ran over to the Cadillac. The driver, a man, was sitting quietly. His wife was crying, also quietly. I asked him if she was O.K. He said: "It’s about something else. Our son died in an auto accident not long ago." I kept saying that I was sorry.

PS: There were no serious injuries. My Chevelle was totaled.

Koviashuktok

an Arctic Coast Inuit (Eskimo) concept meaning:

"Full awareness of the present moment and place, with great joy and without desire"