Hometown

Brandon Hatchel
Talty, Texas
December 2011

I think this is one of my favorite photographs i have taken this year. I have known Brandon since 2nd grade and struck up a friendship with him the moment we met. I remember we used to carry around a walkman with Metallica, Ozzy and Gn'R tapes on the playground. I guess we were just that cool. He and his family have a spread of land outside of the town i grew up in and i remember certain things about it like it was just a while ago. His pet raccoon, the pond with an oak tree and cabin next to it that looks like a postcard, his mom's smile and eyes, the first time i had a lemon drop, taking guns and army crawling through creek beds in the woods and that feeling of being young when everything kicked ass. I moved away at one point and then a few years later came back and we would kick it again from time to time. One time at school in the bathroom this kid was giving me hell and calling me Elvis. I wasn't doing too good at standing up to him and Brandon came in and got my back. He was always the toughest pacifist i knew. I remember always appreciating him for that and at the same time feeling ashamed for not being able to stand alone. The last time i saw him was around 1999. I wasn't doing too well back then but he still opened his home up to me and helped me out when a lot of people wouldn't have wanted to get involved in the mess that was me. Unmerited grace has been a common theme throughout my life. He also reached out to me last year at a time when i needed a friend and we have had a few small conversations online since but until yesterday hadn't been able to get together and catch up. Coolest reunion i have had with anyone in a while. We got to bring each other up to speed on things and talk about the ups and downs of the last 10 years. I can't imagine not seeing too many other people for that long and being able to fall right back into step with them. It's a lot like finding your wallet you thought you lost and feeling richer even though all you have is what you always had, if that makes any sense.