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Memphis Camera Club 2020 Annual Photography Certificate of Excellence "3rd Place Digital People"
Sometimes the candid photos of people can say a lot. Rather than just a face, I thought the environment helped to focus the look on the subject's face. In 2014 I had to leave a home, city and job that I loved. This is my farewell letter to the place that I worked. I miss Boulder and I miss Colorado.
All this week I have had a feeling I have forgotten something when I am leaving the office. I forget a lot of things but I also believe that feeling comes from leaving CPWD and all of you. I know I have forgotten to say thank you to each one of you for all that I have learned from you.
I love CPWD and I have to say that this past year has been one of my most self-satisfying. One day Patrick and I visited PASCO down in Denver and by chance I ran into their receptionist. Not only did he look familiar, but he knew my name. I recognized Darryl, I had interviewed him twelve years ago, before I worked here at CPWD. I had originally met him in a nursing home in Memphis Tennessee in 2001.
I was not the major assistance he had when he moved from a nursing home in Memphis to his own home in Denver Colorado, the Memphis Center for Independent Living had done most of the work with Darryl. I met him and talked about Independent Living but that year I set off on my year-long bicycle ride around the nation. The Executive Director of MCIL asked me to check in on Darryl when I was in Denver in 2002.
(Photo by Scott Nance)
Back in 2002 Daryl was doing great. He had left a nursing home and was in his own apartment, directing his personal assistance and becoming a Broncos fan. I thought that Darryl had achieved the pinnacle of success. The amazing thing about my meeting with Darryl last October was seeing how Independent Living never stops.
Darryl was not just out of the nursing home, he had a job. As I talked with him, I realized that when I last saw him he was just beginning his road to independence, not at the climax. He did not just have his own home, he was buying a home; he told me that closing was in a week. Although Daryl does not use his upper body, he uses assistive technology to answer the phones at PASCO and he drives a car with a joystick.
Independence never stops. We can all take pride in what we do; although often it really is the amazing accomplishments of our community.
I also have to mention the state vouchers. The state housing vouchers will help people move into the community and I hope that all of you will help Keith with this task. Working to get Money Follows the Person for Colorado, demanding the Community First Choice Option and those state housing vouchers are the greatest accomplishments of my time at CPWD.
I know that you all have a lot of great things ahead of you and CPWD. I wish I had some wisdom to pass along to all of you, but really the wisdom I have comes from you all. Thank you.
I love you all and will miss you.
- Tim Wheat
Photo by Tim Wheat.
