I hesitate to ask too many questions on Facebook darkroom groups, because, well, reasons. But we started talking about looking for a revolving door rather than building a light maze, even though I was initially opposed to the idea. So I threw the request out to Facebook-land. After being told I didn’t want one because I would surely pinch my fingers, someone pointed to an auction for one in Knoxville. A week and $12.15 later, we became owners of this beat up metal and plastic tube that is going a allow for a MUCH bigger darkroom space.

I think a lot of us like to believe there is a right time and a right place for everything. I have been very impatient to get any form of a teaching space up and running — timing has not felt like my friend, for, maybe years at this point. But I like to feel that things are turning a corner. I started talking about needing a cabinet for a film dryer, and within a day or two, I stumbled into one at the ReStore. And it sounds like for my birthday, I am getting the barn that will house the darkroom insulated in just few days. This is after months of planning and waiting, and waiting, and waiting.

I was told by an artist that I respect that when you have a goal, you just need to express it to everyone you know. You never know who is listening, who knows someone else who can help, or whether you’re helping just conjure it into being by talking about it. I’m trying to heed that advice and use my voice more.