Here I stand. A nurse in a nursing home. Rushing. Short of breath. Expected to be in three places at once. Multitasking. Priorities. People. Unexpected staff shortages. Compromises must be made. Talking, speaking, repeating. The phone rings. No elevator arrives.
And you? You’re probably already off work, aren’t you? How much I wish I could join you soon for some company. Tea, or perhaps coffee today? If you like, we can be a bit quieter today. We don’t always have to talk. Just sitting here, enjoying life, having a peaceful and contented time – I’m all for it.
Would you mind if I’d tell you something personal until the elevator arrives? Oh, thanks. So well. Do you even know what you’ve meant to me over all these years here? Nonono. Please don’t be so modest. Of course, you’re just part of a coffee machine, I’m fully aware of that, no question. Still. In all honesty. Maybe…maybe that’s exactly what makes you so incredibly special to me. This unobtrusiveness, this subtlety in your backlit face. And, of course, your undeniable contentment. I know all too well how simply holding a warm cup of tea can bring a person not just any but a deep kind of satisfaction…
After all these years that we’ve known each other…May I confess something very personal to you, something I’ve wanted to share with you for a long, long time? Please forgive me if what I’m about to say feels too forward, but your gentle and always so “reliable” smile is something I wouldn’t want to miss here at work. You’ve probably noticed several times how I’ve had to abruptly turn away from you, haven’t you? Do you know why I so often felt the need to do that? It’s simply because I felt a bit asahamed…when your smile unexpectedly caught me again…all while I had to deal with this or that uncomfortable workload that very moment. I’m deeply sorry if I’ve confused you by doing that, but please see: before we met, I never thought that you, or photography in general, could affect me so deeply and regularly. How it touches and moves my mood in all those very different moments. How it stirs up desires, memories and feelings. Regardless of how mundane its appearance may be in everyday life – it’s fascinating, isn’t it? That power behind subtle and subversive art in general and photography in particular.
Oh, the elevator just arrived – I got to get back to work. You have my sincere thanks for listening to my fleeting thoughts again. Perhaps we can continue our exchange again a little later or tomorrow, what do you think? It would certainly be a great and welcome pleasure for me! Farewell for now, see you later!