amelia's thoughts....

A week ago I left my job at a newspaper in Arkansas. It was an extremely difficult decision to leave newspapers, but I couldn't be more excited about my new adventure! I leave with some ideas in my head for projects and unfinished business.

I'd like to share a couple of stories and photos I took in the past few months that are closest to my heart...

This is Aretta and Harry Melvin. They are separated at different nursing homes after being married for 62 years. Harry has Parkinson's disease and Aretta suffers from dementia. After her dementia escalated she had to relocate to a nursing home that offers lock down. "It's easier to die than it is to get old," said Harry Melvin.






This photo is from a short story I worked on about a hip hop dance club at a junior high school. "The thing that I think they took away is to really own the moment, in the place and time," said Jeanette Arnhart. "If you've worked hard...just by owning your moment, you'll make people understand."



Finally, here are some children with autism. With no single known cause or cure, autism is the fastest growing developmental disability. At the age of 10, the future of these children will be decided. They will either send them on to school with all the other children, or send them to a special school based on their current skill level.





I'll leave the Hot Pink People with this...

"A new journey to be started.
A new promise to be fulfilled.
A new page to be written.
Go forth unto this waiting world with pen in hand all you young scribes, the open book awaits.
Be creative.
Be adventurous.
Be original.
And above all else, be young.
For youth is your greatest weapon, your greatest tool.
Use it wisely."
------Wonder Woman #62