These pictures I took of The Golden Gate Bridge in October of 2004. Upon seeing this bridge for the first time, I was in awe of its majestic splendor. It is absolutely the most beautiful man made modern monumental structure that I’ve ever been in the presence of.
And I remember at the time in rhetoric I asked, “I wonder if a lot of people commit suicide by jumping off this Bridge?” Niels, a friend who resides in San Francisco replied, “Oh yeah. A lot!” He then added some statistic about the bridge being the #1 suicide landmark. Well, little did we know as we were standing there, a documentary film about jumpers, was being shot by Eric Steel, called “The Bridge.”
That year 24 people had jumped to their deaths. The film captures this haunting phenomenon as you watch people who look over the railings. “Will they do it?” you keep asking your self as the camera follows isolated people looking out yonder to the depths bellow. It’s not surprising to me that many people in the lowest depths of their emotional pain with access to the bridge would choose this as the place to literally make their step to the other side we call death. There is something mystical about this bridge. It’s not hard to see that it could be seen, as a portal to that unknown place they believe will give them relief. The way that the fog roles over this bridge often allowing dispersed pools of sun light that illuminates its golden orange finish and it’s setting between a cavern-ness landscape parting the Pacific ocean from the bay, one can’t help but feel that this is a place of Devine presence.
With interviews of the loved ones, this film titled “The Bridge” is ultimately about suicide. Suicide is not that uncommon of a problem and although I have not had any of my immediate friends or family that has chosen this path, I can name four friends that has known some one who has. The most recent incident happened a month ago and I can assure that leaves a devastating wake. And viewing the testaments in this film one might be able to learn of some of the signs a person gives who is seriously contemplating it. We all should remember that suicide is the result when a person’s emotional pain exceeds their ability to cope with that pain and they loose hope for a remedy in life. If you know any one who might be thinking about it refer them to this site:
http://www.metanoia.org/suicide/
Cause last night, through out viewing this film, I couldn’t help but think, “Don’t do it!”
Click to enlarge
This is my midyear report card of my sophomore year in high school. I cherish this relic of my past.
When recently asked why I would want to keep it? My answer was,” I’d like to show it to my kid when he is having trouble with school in his adolescents. I want to show him the proof and know that his father had trouble with school. I want him to know that his report card and experience in high school does not determine the worth of his identity and cap the value of what he will achieve in his lifetime.”
This report card for me is proof of a miracle. If you look closely at it, you will see that the common reason given for my failure is excessive absence. And this was true. I didn’t show up for school most of that whole quarter. But I didn’t fail every class. I passed one. And as the others I did not show and should of failed. Although science can rationalize it as a simple coincidence, I see it as a personal message to me by God or what ever you want to call that thing that is responsible for the cosmic order. Of all the report cards that I’ve had in my education, this one was the truest representation of me, my hope and the faith in my life, at a time when if asked, I would of denied and replied, ” If I had a button that could destroy the world, I would press it!”
On the report card the class is abriviated.
I’m right handed so I must of taken this picture with my left. I have a vague memory when I was about 3 or 4 I was asked are you right handed or left. I said I don’t know? I was told to just choose one cause the teachers were trying to engage us in some sort of activity that involved painting or drawing. So I chose the right one.
I often think what if something was to happen to my right hand. Like if it got chopped off. I make my living with my right hand. knowing that it’s a choice I do not worry. I would just start to use my left hand.
This shot of my grand father Pete Korelich, I took in his record mastering studio in Hollywood Ca. He was once a rocket scientist who came up with the idea for the heat seaking missile and then led the team of engineers to create it. Too bad he was an employee of a larger corporation so he didn’t hold the patton cause I’d be rich. Well I don’t think he liked that work anyway cause he left it and then eventually opened a record pressing company. He also mastered and produced records. Mostly tajana music before he died. He was born in Yugoslavia and moved to Mexico when he was 7. I have a few records from the jazz drummer Roy Porter that he syndicated on one of his record labels Vistone Records. They are really cool and one is even a Hip Hop album.
