The 100 Day Project #3

Mike Z

Saint-Gaudens National Historic Park, New Hampshire, USA, 2018

The 100 Day Project, Day 3

I got married "late" in life. It took me a long while to find someone I liked as much as I loved. I found that person in Mike Z.

Today is his birthday, and in a couple of weeks we'll celebrate our 12th wedding anniversary.

Mike is probably my most-photographed subject — and one of the most photogenic. I have loved this portrait of him from the moment the shutter clicked. His quiet stoicism present in his posture. His creative joy is there in the polka dot shirt. His deep love of renovating old homes is represented by the wall behind him. But what I love most is the outline of the house at his back. There is no more fitting symbol for who Mike is to me. He has been my home, my shelter, for 15 years — steady through storms, a place of calm and warmth for everyone lucky enough to know him.

And what a gloriously fun 15 years it has been. We've renovated five homes together, lived in three states, traveled to nearly every corner of this country and a growing list of countries beyond it. We've cared for aging and ill parents. Made the choice not to have children of our own. Supported each other's creative lives and held each other up when needed. He makes me laugh like no one else. And every day he shows me how to be a more patient and compassionate person. Simply put, I am a better person because of him and his love for us.

Happy birthday, hot pants. I love you.

About the 100 Day Project: A global creative challenge where thousands of artists share a piece of their practice every single day for 100 days. I'm joining creatives around the world, and I'm excited to bring you along. Each day I'll be sharing one of my photos — some recent, some old, and some from my current project — along with the story behind it: where I was, who I was with, and why I love it.