Well, a couple of months ago we added a new Mrs. Van Scoyoc to the family mix and it looks like soon we’ll be adding a tiny baby as well. Erin is pregnant. Somehow despite the difficulties of 30 hour work shifts, she was able to plan a pregnancy to occur soon after her medical residency ends. I consider this a miracle of planning especially considering my family’s general inability to plan ahead. Well played Erin and Rusty.
We are all very happy for her and this news certainly is another reason for me to spend another year in Durham. The more time I spend here, the harder it is to imagine leaving, and yet I feel leaving may be inevitable in the end. I’m trying to get used to the idea of going where graduate school takes me. I’m trying to get Eli used to this idea as well, and yet we still pop into open houses on Sundays wishing we could settle down.
I feel a little bit down on myself because in the end it is my fault that we need to move. Why couldn’t I make it into UNC this year? Certainly it’s nearly impossible for psychology, but still, what can I do better next year? Very little will change. It looks like I’m going to spend the next year here and damn I’m going to enjoy it as it will probably be my last for a long time.
Here’s a photograph of Erin from the other day. I love how the light comes into my bedroom in the morning creating light patches on the wall. Here is also a photograph of Erin when she was very little and very bug-eyed. These two photos should give anyone who gives birth to a strangeling hope for the future.
A couple of weeks ago I found an old binder of negatives that I stored in the depths of my parent’s storage room. They are from my only college photography class and include some photographs of my sisters from the first year that they were with my family. I remembered shooting some photos of them with their hands inside of a chicken carcass because it was such a strange thing, and have wondered for years where these photographs could be. When I found them I was incredibly excited to scan them in.
When Maria and Ana first came from Russia they considered the heart of the chicken to be the pinnacle of deliciousness. After eating a roasted chicken they would stick their fingers deep down into the greasy chicken, pull out the heart, look at it for a second and then devour it. This was always truly disgusting, but it brought them such pleasure.
ana searches for the chicken's heart
This morning there is an article in Duke’s newspaper about the exhibit. One of the difficulties that I have had with this exhibit is trying to articulate my thoughts on teen pregnancy generally. I tried very hard with the exhibit to show the negative and the positive aspects of young motherhood and allow viewers to make their own judgements.
I have found that there is the tendency for the viewer to see the negative when I see the positive, and this is difficult for me. I certainly hope that people do not see the exhibit and see only the negatives. If negative stereotypes are at all solidified than I had failed completely. The duke article is a good article but I cringed once with the word “listless” because I guess that it is true, Christina does look listless in that particular photograph, but it still implies an attitude to her child which is anything but true.
I have had one Duke professor contact me so far to question why all of the people in the exhibit are minorities. He felt that this pushed the stereotype that all teen parents are minorities which certainly isn’t true. Should I have written more about race in the intro panel? The young people are Latino and Black and mixed because that is the make-up of Chelsea, MA. I feel that pushing the race question would have been pushing an issue that wasn’t really pertinent to the community I worked with. Anyhow, I anticipate more criticism that is difficult to respond to.
On Friday I put up a new exhibit for Duke’s Sanford Institute for Public Policy. Duke hired Peter to help me hang the exhibit which was wonderful. What a treat to have someone who has extensive experience with exhibits take care of the technicalities of finishing an exhibit.
I am currently putting together an opening event that will take place on April 8th from 6 to 8. There will be a speaker coming from the National Campaign for Teen Pregnancy Prevention and a panel of people with different perspectives and experiences with teen pregnancy and young parenthood. I will put up a post with more details this week.
I am always incredibly impressed with Radio Rookies podcasts. They are short audio documentaries created by teens in New York City. They almost always are about an issue that is prevalent in impoverished neighborhoods (parents being at work all the time, financial difficulties, academic difficulties, pregnancy, gun control.) It’s incredible to listen to teens work through some of the larger problems in the neighborhoods where they live. So often we forget how incredibly smart and knowledgeable young people are–in particular about issues pertinent to their everyday lives.
Here is this week’s podcast. It certainly reminds me of some of the girls in Chelsea. Jacuyra talks about the difficulties she encounters as if she has few choices about her present and future. This podcast made me care about Jacuyra and want to hear more from her but it also made me feel quite sad.
Another inauguration post. Slightly randomly I ended up meeting Bill Clinton and talking with him about poverty. A whole bunch of people shook his hand and he seemed to love the attention. I thought quickly, “Shit, if I could say one thing to Bill Clinton in my life, what would it be?” So I came up with something like, “Thanks for all of the work you did to combat poverty. I worked in Chelsea, MA, and could see the positive effects of your decisions.” And then he ended up talking to me about how he’s working with Obama right now specifically on poverty issues. It’s high up on their agenda. It was a very good statement for him to elaborate on.
It was a nice moment. I believe that Clinton did make incredibly positive changes to the “welfare” system. I used to talk with the young moms about these changes and even though the changes often made it more difficult for them to access benefits, they were in favor of the regulations and job requirements. Although, obviously there are many more changes that need to take place. I was always incredibly frustrated by the lack of an easy transition out of welfare.
My mom shaking Bill's hand.
Eli, Becca, Erica and I slept overnight in my dad's office and woke to a beautiful cold morning.
The crowds gathered around the reflecting pool.
Keeping it safe.
We watched from the balcony and from inside the office. No cameras allowed on the balcony though or the secret service said they might shoot at us.
And he's suddenly president.
My parents share their thoughts.
Maria taking photos.
Love Obama.
People and a statue in front of the Capital.
After the inauguration people took advantage of the frozen over reflecting pool.
Reflecting pool again.
And again...
Bush's exit strategy.
Obama's in there I think.
Then we watched a boy watch the people below.
Crowds.
We are in DC and despite horrible traffic and a bit of stress, I am now finally overlooking the Capital. It’s an incredibly cold day, but the coldness makes for lovely photographs. I am camping out on the floor of my Dad’s office overnight along with Eli, my cousin Erica, my friend Becca, and my little sister Maria. My Dad’s office is having a party tomorrow and there will be quite a number of people here tonight. The restaurant downstairs is catering and staying open late because all of their employees are sleeping over as well. It is just easier not to have to navigate DC in the morning. I am expecting a memorable Inauguration’s Eve.
Some photos from today.
Eli, the Capital and a balloon.
Obama.
Before the bridge.
Capital and people.
Obama in Georgetown.
