Aloha, team-

Checking in with you all - know I’ve been quiet over the past two weeks.  My previous chemo infusion knocked me flat.  With each infusion I’m learning firsthand the wretched side effects that can be caused by chemo.  This go ‘round:  Hand Foot Syndrome.  Not to be confused with what toddlers can get (that’s Hand Foot & Mouth Disease).   I won’t lie – my hands and feet feel like they’re on fire and that’s on top of the neuropathy.  So, I’m learning cancer is a parting gift that just keeps on giving.

I’d like to use this Caring Bridge post to give an update on the prints folks so kindly purchased in support of my care.  We’ve been working closely with the printing company and production should begin this week.  We’re told shipping will occur throughout March, so thank you for your patience.  I had a Certificate of Authenticity created and it will accompany each print – I want everyone to know just how grateful I am that you purchased one of my pieces. 

Not sure if you knew this but I’m self-taught when it comes to this particular medium.  I became very interested in photography around the time I co-founded PangeaSeed Foundation a decade-plus ago.  And since I’ve taken on this hobby, I’ve been so fortunate with my exposure (pun intended) to incredible subjects – sometimes sad, sometimes happy, sometimes out of sheer luck, but always with a grateful eye to my surroundings.  For this print project with you guys I selected some of my favorite photographs over the past decade and thought I’d share with you the backstories.  Good memories for sure.

For this week’s Caring Bridge installment let’s talk about my photograph of the humpback whale, Every Little Thing She Does is Magic.  I took this photo in 2017 during one of PangeaSeed Foundation’s humpback whale expeditions in the Kingdom of Tonga.  Prior to the pandemic, and for several years, PangeaSeed Foundation would visit Tonga with a group our supporters during humpback whale calving season, giving our supporters the opportunity to experience these amazing creatures in the wild and up close with multiple open water dives. And so, on this particular day – it was towards the end of the day on our last dive- we got in the water with a mother and her calf and spent about 40 minutes together.  During this time, the mother humpback really checked us out, but after she decided we were safe she left us to babysit her calf while she dove down about 30 feet below us to take a snooze!  The calf was really charismatic and very curious – it came in very close to me as you can see in the photo, totally eye-to-eye.  Just fascinating!  Funny enough, at one point when the calf was close to me it turned quickly, and I ducked just as its tail swooped over my head (remember --- baby humpbacks are the size of a school bus) and their tails are serrated, covered in barnacles.  I dodged the tail and went to the surface where I connected with our guide and the poor guy - his eyes were the size of dinner plates!    But me and that baby humpback that day, both of us curious, checking each other out, I wanted to memorialize just how special it was to share the same space with this incredible creature.  If you want to see some footage from our 2016 visit to Tonga, check out this short piece on Vimeo, https://vimeo.com/189400809.  When I’m sitting in the hospital for my latest infusion, or I’m home trying to work through the latest (not fun) chemo side effects, having these photos and the memories associated with them takes me back to a happy time.  And I intend on getting back to these locations soon to capture their beauty with my camera again.

Lastly, starting with this CaringBridge update I’d like to crowdsource food (or recipe) suggestions.  I’m struggling to eat due to the constant nausea 24/7 and my weight is quickly moving in the wrong direction.  I’d love your thoughts on items you think I could find somewhat compelling to consume.  Anything goes!  And given you, my amazing network is from around the world, I’m hoping to collect some great ideas.  Akira is on point with her remarkable cooking abilities, but I know she’s getting very annoyed with me when it comes to eating (or lack thereof).   So be sure to leave your suggestions in the comments section on the CaringBridge site.

A massive thanks to you all, every single one of you.  I’m grateful having you in my court.

Shark love! 🦈

Tre’