Life's Not So Black & White (2024)

Back home with thousands of photos encoded in crystallized silver.

In Sweden, my parents arrive.

They think about what they'd like to see here.

They wait for the bus.

And they discuss the day's activities.

The day's activities involve looking at plants.

And peering off of bridges.

And peering up stairs.

But mostly it's plants.

In America, my ride arrives.

And chaos comes too.

Erin calms everyone down.

At least for a while.

Dolly sparkles on silver halide.

And Blondie's beauty is enshrined forever.

Brandon receives his instructions.

And Dolly does a business.

Down south to see Sadie.

Speedy Ortiz in Richmond's underlit bar.

Souther still, Mac stands in the spotlight.

And the party starts.

We have visual showmen.

And cheerful storytellers.

We have attention-seeking rockers.

And… attention-seeking rockers.

Ibibio cranks up their sound machines.

Carl Newman belts out some tunes.

And Mac does, too.

The Quivers get two sets.

And we're thankful for that.

I'm too close to Eric.

But just right for Neil.

We say bye to the birdies.

And hi to mom and dad.

It's his 80th birthday.

And he's rather glad.

Their humming birds visit.

And chickadees too.

Who's in Dutton's kitchen?

It's Eric, that's who.

Eric is tired.

His daughter is tired.

His toller is tired.

His dobermann is tired.

All these animals and kiddos.

So exhausting.

Martin's husky isn't tired at all.

Neither are Martin nor Michelle.

But he's looking mischevious.

His babysitter ensures he stays out of trouble.

Mark is backlit but happy.

But Mackie puts them all to shame.

There's a man who knows how to appreciate life.

And there's a kid who knows how to appreciate measurements.

His mom is proud of his mathematical prowess.

His dad throws him to the sharks.

He wonders if he's done the wrong thing.

But revenge is swift and fierce.

And Annie knows she's raised hers right.

Lisa watches it all with casual indifference.

Kit Kat wishes me a very fond farewell.

There's a cool dude waiting back in Stockholm for me.

"What about me?"

There's a cooler chick waiting back in Stockholm for me.

"That's right."

Karl's lurking around town.

Adam's lurking around work.

Joakim's at work, too.

So is Ludvig.

And JP.

And Dain, and Laura.

And Hannes.

And Jakob.

And a mystery man.

Whose security protocols fail.

They're all embedded in grains of silver forever.