These photos mean alot to me.
It’s hard to describe the unique phenomenon to both be both an insider and outsider to this country at the same time. Growing up an “international” (Brit Dad, Filipino/Chinese/Russian mother) on a sailboat sailing to over 60 countries taught me to blend in real quick, especially if it meant I could be around pretty lasses on stable shore. I did visit the States in small pockets of time, a year here and there and did some schooling here too once.
I took my 5th grade for one year in the US. In Florida. I befriended my best mate, Kent, because I was head over heels in love with his sister Heather a couple years older than me. The three of us would carouse in the pool, play Star Wars (I was always jockeying to be Han to her Lea) as well as romping through the steamy Flordian woods. She was dark haired and ivory skinned and would call me to join her up in a tree to eat an icicle or gentle pet each others forearms for no other reason than it felt good. They don’t have this in Bay of Biscaye, just waves and death.
Heather however was blossoming quick, being a couple years older and caught the attention of a blonde blue eyed apple pie strapping boy. They were soon going “steady” and I was crushed. No one knew of course and it would only a given that I Was asked to guard the house while they kissed on the roof. We’re all friends right?
I played my one and only game of baseball that summer (still don’t get it). One of the kids accidentally batted a ball through someone’s window and, without warning, the irate owner bolted out and immediately spanked the boy over his knee and left without warning. The whole incident happened so fast everyone was dumbfounded. I took the lead in righteous indignation, seeing an opportunity to posture:
Me: “If that was me, I’d take this bat and BASH him!!! (referring to the spank giving adult). “Like this!!”
And without thinking, I swiftly and deftly demonstrated by swinging down the baseball bat smack down onto my beloved Heather’s head.
I didn’t mean to do that…
All I remember is screams, blood and then a posse of 6 boys pummeling the life out of me. Then blackout.
When I woke I was along on a bloody, empty baseball field Heather nursing me to.
She knew I hadn’t meant to hurt her and lifted me to my knees. Turns out I was more hurt than she. We hobbled home to her house where she lied and told her father she fell off her bike. She promised she’d never tell and I promised I’d never play baseball again. And I haven’t.
I sailed away for good at the end of summer but the flavors of sunny summer, free spirited youths and American innocence have always romanced me. I’ve come back as an adult to capture American Beauty. Pure and erotic both, as they live together.
Sovereign is a mercurial actress, easily morphing from the vampy vixen you all know her to be, but just as well into the most precious, open hearted, vulnerable beauty I’ve ever met. It’s that Sovereign that -I- get to have, mornings in bed chirping happily away and planning more American adventures.
Here she is in that vein that I adore so much.
Enjoy.
Click on the pictures to enlarge, they’re enjoyed better that way.
Happy Fourth of July, friends.
