western stars: a reflection
The reflection in this window confuses me, even though I stood right there and made the photo. Trying to work out where I was standing and which direction I was facing gives me what I call “calculus head.” And of course that name comes from that one semester in college when I had to take calculus. In class it nearly made sense, but when I try to do homework or take a test, it was like I’d never seen any of it before and the middle of my brain felt mush.
However, unlike calculus, which never made sense, this scene eventually worked itself out and now I can clearly visualize what was going on.
Nara Visa, New Mexico
photographed 8.31.2025
PS: My granddaughter Hannah loves calculus. (I know that doesn’t make any sense.) And once we had a conversation:
Hannah, showing me a calculus problem: What do you think the answer is?
Me (starting to feel early symptoms of Calculus Head): Uh, is it Thursday?
Hannah, rolling her eyes: No. The answer will NEVER be Thursday.
So that narrows it down a little bit.
broken chain
He was 19. And an expectant father.
He rolled his truck trying to outrun the police.
His obituary says his nickname was “Big Daddy.”
The police say he was driving without headlights.
The truck on the mural doesn’t have its headlights on, either.
San Jon, Mexico
photographed 8.31.2025
keyhole angel
Oh, look! An angel lined herself* up right in the keyhole-shaped opening on that column.
Hollene Cemetery
Hollene, New Mexico
photographed 8.31.2025
*Or himself. Or themself. IDK the correct pronouns.
room to make the big mistakes
“There’s nothing to see.”
“It’s so flat.”
“It’s boring.”
“The openness is weird.”
(All incorrect statements about the Plains.)
Hollene Cemetery
Hollene, New Mexico
photographed 8.31.2025
no diving
On the way down the hotel hallway to get this photograph, I had a conversation with a gentleman whose keycard didn’t work. He was heading back to the lobby to get it fixed; he was philosophical about it, saying, “Oh, well. I like to walk.”
But then when I stopped to get this photo, I caught a certain look (of terror, or confusion) in his eyes. And I don’t think it’s my imagination that he walked a little faster…
Vega, Texas
photographed 8.31.2025
One Day | One Image 