REUNITED IN GRIEF

REUNITED IN GRIEF.

So I was just two weeks ago on an impromptu trip to LOS ANGELES.

Los Angeles has been my HOME for 23 consecutive years before I decided to exit in 2009 to embark on whatever was to be next.

JANUARY 28TH marked my 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY of stepping out from behind the bar at TOM BERGIN'S where I was a RESIDENT BARTENDER for almost 13 years.

The bar has since closed down. I thought it would be cool to fly out to LA and catch up with as many of my BERGIN'S FAMILY as possible during my trip.

Well I was REUNITED with FRIENDS & FAMILY, some who I have not seen since I left LA.

This reunion worked out  much different than I was hoping.

This reunion happened when I received a text at 6:22AM on 2/1/2019
"Words cannot express the sadness you have come home to. Call me when you get this."

Upon me waking up and seeing the text. I immediately phone my friend. I said to her, Who is dead?

Unfortunately I was correct in thinking someone had died. My friend delivered the news that our mutual friend decided that life was too much. Through his INCREDIBLE PAIN he reached out to friends and people were alarmed for his safety. After a FRANTIC SEARCH his partner and some friends found him. UNFORTUNATELY TOO LATE.

Our friend HUNG HIMSELF.

HANGING has become all too common. I have personally known 7 people in the last 18 plus months. Including my agent, and a childhood friend, whose son at 27 was battling ANXIETY & DEPRESSION.

I have also had 2 attempts with my sister.

MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES ARE REAL.  WE NEED TO TALK AND FEEL SAFE IN DOING SO.

Every family to some degree has these issues.  WE NEED TO LOOK FOR THE SIGNS.

A very SAD & TRAGIC time for OUR friends and family.  My heart breaks for his partner who he shared 22 plus years with. Me and my friends are very concerned for her as she mourns the loss of her SOULMATE.

She will now have to learn how to move on physically,spirtitually,financially and emotionally.
The road ahead of her is LONG.

PLEASE IF YOU ARE SUFFERING REACH OUT TO A FRIEND, FAMILY MEMBER, HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL, EVEN A STRANGER.

NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION HOTLINE 1-800-273-8255
24 HIURS A DAY/EVERYDAY

I wish her COMPLETE HEALING as she continues on her JOURNEY.  I know this will take time if not A LIFETIME.
I said to her if he was able to stay he would have.

DREW WAS LOVED BY MANY AND WILL SORELY BE MISSED BY MANY.
He was a FANTASTIC GUY and the LIFE OF THE PARTY who was always there to greet you with a HUG & HAPPY TO SEE YOU.

I have been in and out of LA over the past 10 years. But on my trips back they were always made better by seeing DREW &  MARISA.  LOVED DREW & LOVE YOU.

This weekend was a HORRIBLE WEEKEND. I am GRATEFUL I WAS IN TOWN AND WAS ABLE TO BE WITH EVERYONE DURING THIS TIME.  I LOVE YOU ALL. MY HEARTBREAKS FOR US ALL.

The very same weekend the SOAP OPERA WORLD lost one of their own when Kristoff St. John was found dead in his home on Sunday February 3, 2019 of a suspected suicide.  They say that Kristoff died of a broken heart never getting over the loss of his son who years earlier died of suicide.

I had the pleasure of meeting and working with Kristoff on my very first Soap Opera job.

HOPING BOTH DREW & KRISTOFF ARE ON A PAIN FREE NEW JOURNEY FILLED WITH PEACE & HAPPINESS. HOPING KRISTOFF IS REUNITED WITH HIS SON.

FLY FREE GUYS.

CURVE BALLS

CURVE BALLS.

Just like in a game of baseball life some times along the journey throws us CURVE BALLS.

The best way to get through these times is by being FLEXIBLE.
Flexible to whatever you may being facing.

The beginning of the new year for me is a time of HOPE.

HOPE & DETERMINATION.

I usually like to spend the last day of the year ALONE & QUIET with my thoughts.
I like to  REFLECT & JOURNAL on what my life was the previous 365 DAYS.

There is a MOMENTUM that comes with leaving a previous year in the past and moving on to what I hope will be a BRIGHTER, MORE FULFILLING FUTURE.

My goal is to always be GRATEFUL for all of the LESSONS AND EXPERIENCES that I have.

Sometimes it is not always comfortable where I am, or what I am going through in life. But I am a believer that whatever and wherever I am in life, I am meant to be there at that exact time for whatever lesson I am suppose to learn.

LESSONS ARE REPEATED UNTIL THEY ARE LEARNED. This I believe is the universe being PATIENT and having FAITH that with DETERMINATION AND WILL, WE WILL BE ABLE TO OVERCOME THE CURVE BALLS THROWN MY/OUR WAY..

The new year is always a time that I like to SET INTENTIONS & GOALS for what is to come.

I hate being sick at the beginning of a new year. When I am I often wonder is that is an indication of how the new year will play out.

What I am realizing that being sick at the beginning of the new year might be a way of the universe allowing me like a MARATHON RUNNER not expend all the energy before the NEW YEAR really begins.

Maybe it is a way to really do a system of CHECKS & BALANCES to make sure that the GOALS & INTENTIONS are in fact worth the ENERGY that will be spent for I/us to attain.

Of course I like many sure hope to improve the QUALITY OF OUR LIVES from year to year.
Starting the year off sick almost feels like the AIR has been knocked out of me at times.  It leaves me second guessing if things will be any different.

Throughout my life I have stumbled more times I would like to admit but the older I get I am realizing it is all part of WHATEVER I AM SUPPOSE TO LEARN IN THIS LIFE.

BELIEVING,HOPING,PRAYING, TRUSTING and WORKING  on continuing to  GROW and LEARN on this ROLLERCOASTER OF A RIDE CALLED LIFE.

I am learning to just ACCEPT IT IS A PROCESS and Be GRATEFUL that I am open and RECEPTIVE TO GOING ALONG THE JOURNEY.

PEACE AND BLESSINGS AND LOVE TO YOU ALL.

MAY YOU ALL TRAVELING ALONG YOUR JOURNEY PRACTICE GRATITUDE.

 IN A TIME OF DARKNESS IN THE WORLD LET US ALL SHINE LIGHT AND SHARE LOVE AND BE KIND.

SHARED BEAUTY.

SHARED BEAUTY.

So today is 12/31/18. 

Another one enters into the history books. My god they go by SO FAST.

DON'T BLINK.

 You go to sleep in January, and before you know it it is December. I guess the reality of life is there is just not ENOUGH TIME.

Because there is NOT ENOUGH TIME. 

It is CRUCIAL that we spend our time wisely. That means whatever it means to each and every one of us. As we are all on our own individual journeys.

We have the opportunity to CREATE & LIVE what type of life we WANT.

Some of us seek a life of SECURITY. This type of life from what I have witnessed keeps people bound to a life usually dictated by others. NOT FOR ME. 

Those that are able to live this type of life I give you props. My concern which really should not be a concern of mine, is that you will get to the end of whatever this part of your journey is and you will be UNFULFILLED.  Asking questions like should've, could've  and would've BUT DID NOT.

Than there of some of us who seek ADVENTURE & FREEDOM. 

This life is not for everyone either. Also seeking this type of life we ask ourselves some of, if not all the same questions.

There are + & - TO BOTH WAYS OF LIVING.

TIME IS PRECIOUS.........DO NOT WASTE IT.

As we close out this year, I just want to wish everyone of you a 2019 of your DREAMS.

Thank you all for following my JOURNEY and your APPRECIATION for the beauty that I am BLESSED & GRATEFUL to witness along my travels.

SOMETIMES IN LIFE YOU HAVE TO TRAVEL THROUGH THE DARK TO FIND THE LIGHT. IT MAY NOT ALWAYS BE COMFORTABLE BUT WORTH THE TRIP. 

PLEASE be on the lookout for tons of NEW WORK that will be posted on my site www.fineartamerica.com/profiles/joeburnsimages PLEASE SHARE THIS LINK.

Also BRAND NEW WEBSITE COMING IN 2019.

MYSELF & JOE BURNS PHOTOGRAPHY WISH YOU ALL AN AMAZING 19

RESTLESS SPIRIT

RESTLESS SPIRIT.

We are less than two weeks from closing out yet another year.

LESS THAN TWO WEEKS.

As the years go by they go FASTER & FASTER

IN 2019, I begin my 53RD year on this PLANET.
HOW DID THAT EVEN HAPPEN?

I have always had a love of travel. I have traveled extensively to some beautiful places.
We do live in a BEAUTIFUL WORLD.

The issue I have been dealing with the past three years, as I have driven cross country multiple times, as well as traveling abroad.

 I am constantly  RESTLESS.

Everywhere  I have been I am RESTLESS. I do not allow myself to just enjoy the NOW.

I have had ask myself the reason for this. I am not sure the answer has been revealed.

Thinking as I am making this entry that it possibly could be that the past three years the majority of my travel was to WORK.

I have had so much ADVENTURE the past three years since leaving Los Angeles, which makes for great writing material, yet I have not done ANY. This is so unlike me. I have journaled since I was seventeen.
THAT IS A LOT OF YEARS.

Hoping making this entry I get back in the groove. FINGERS CROSSED.

I think that as an artist sometimes we have to
PROTECT OURSELVES AS WE ARE CONSTANTLY SHARING AND SUBJECTING OURSELVES TO CRITICISM. Also as artists we are SO FRAGILE.

We have to live a CREATIVE LIFE.
FOR MANY OF US IT IS A LIFE OF ANGST AS WHAT WE DEEM AS SUCCESSFUL SEEMS T0 ALWAYS BE JUST OUT OF REACH.

A friend from Los Angeles has written a created a great project called THE DISAPPOINTMENTS.
UNFORTUNATELY FOR SO MANY THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE FEEL LIKE IF OUR DREAMS ARE NOT FULFILLED

Wishing you the best on this project Rich.

Makes for many RESTLESS NIGHTS AND YEARS.

LIFE PRESENTS A CERTAIN URGENCY.
 None of us know the amount of time we have been GIFTED ON THIS EARTH.

I am not afraid to die. What I am afraid of is not FULLY LIVING.

I have been doing a really good job of crossing off and living MY BUCKET LIST.
There is so much more I want to SEE & DO.

The sad reality is I will never get it all done. There just is not enough TIME.

My intention for the New Year is to really try and FOCUS on the HERE & NOW.

I do not know if I will be successful with this goal. I promise I am going to try.

So all we can do is try our BEST.  I believe if I/we do this we will find comfort in the HERE & NOW and our days of RESTLESSNESS will be replaced with JOY, PEACE and SERENITY.

I wish that for all of us.

Many times in life we have to weather the STORM BEFORE WE ARE AT PEACE.

PEACE & BLESSINGS.

BACK TO ONE

BACK TO ONE.

The beautiful thing about celebrating a New Years we get to begin to start over.

We get to BEGIN AGAIN.

We have a clean  slate

365 BLANK PAGES.

What we do with this fresh start is up to us.

A lot of it depends on choices we make as we move into a brand new space.

We also need to trust that there will be obstacles, challenges and setbacks that will either stop us dead in out tracks or will redirect our energies and move forward.

Usually this time of of year we take some alone time/quite time to REFLECT.

Reflect on the past 365 days and how we spent them. We also set goals and set our intentions for the next 365.

The new year is a magical time of year, We get a do over if things did not go as we liked. We can make a conscious effort to do things differently that hopefully will give us are desire for how we want to exist in the new year.

GRATITUDE is KEY.

We must be grateful for all that we are and all that we have and all that we would like to appear in our lives.

We have the POWER to create the space we want to exist in.

We need to come together so we can create a different tomorrow for all of us in 2018.

God Bless.  Happy New Year.  Let's Soar into the New Year.

S

LIFE ON THE ROAD......MY JOURNEY

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

You Sue. Happy Birthday. Trusting your new journey is Magical. 

So as I wrap up yet another seasonal job here in California, Death Valley to be exact.

I returned to California after a four year absence. I spent three years in Los Angeles and decided to go back on the road.

Since than I have had the good fortune to TRAVEL & WORK.

I left LA almost one year to the day of me making this entry.

This past year has been filled with ADVENTURE.

Why you might ask? I decide to enter the world of Seasonal Work.

The first job took me on a 3500 miles drive north to the last frontier and the wilds of Alaska through some of the most amazing and beautiful land I have ever seen.  BUCKET LIST trip for sure.

So GRATEFUL to have spent approximately seven months working,traveling and capturing the abundant beauty that Alaska has to offer through the lens of my camera.

I AM BLESSED.

Once I left Alaska I road tripped through the Yukon and Canada. Surrounded by beauty that took my breath away and brought me to tears. The beauty filled my soul to overflowing.

From Alaska, I decided to venture to Colorado and enjoy the season working in the Rockies at a ski resort. Also gave me the chance to catch up with from LA friends living inColorado. It also reunited me with some Alaska friends.  Colorado also is abundant in beauty. I had no idea I would fall in love with being in the snow again, but I DID. I also got on skis for the first time in almost 40 years. dId not go very well. STOP LAUGHING MAGGIE. I still had fun.

I decided to roll the dice and to leave a Coloradonto explore the beauty of Death Valley. So I am in my final week of living in a total different type of beauty which is the desert.

I leave here and get to travel for five weeks......LA/PS for two weeks and than I head East NYC/NJ

I am given myself a break after working seasonally for a full year. Will be catching up with friend and family on both coasts. My family I am seeing after an almost two year absence. I am going home for my nieces wedding......SHOULD BE INTERESTING.

I begin my new job on June 11th. In Fire Island.......Looking forward to heading east for six plus months? Really looking forward to being back at the beach. SUN, SAND and the Healing Powerbof the Ocean.

This all is possible because of CHOICES I have made and my WILLINGNESS to constantly CHANGE which is necessary for GROWTH.

I am BLESSED & filled with GRATITUDE for my JOURNEY.

I encourage you all to stop the grind and to have the courage to LIVE YOUR ULTIMATE LIFE.

We only have ONE LIFE TO LIVE.......LIVE IT ON YOUR TERMS.

Happy Birthday to my beautiful friend Sue whose life was cut short.

LAID TO REST

February 24, 2017

It was 22 years ago today that we as a family gathered to say our final goodbyes on a blustery cold winter day in Upstate New York  as you set off on your brand new journey.

Hard to believe we have physically been without you for more than 2 DECADES.

My god time FLIES.

You while here present and alive were a GUARDIAN ANGEL to ME. I have no doubt that throughout the years you have also been by my side and watching out for me from above.

THANK YOU.

WHat is so beautiful is that your great grandchildren whose never had the chance to meet you with the exception of NIcole because they arrived well after you had gone..

They talk about you and love you just the same as if you were present in their lives.......WHO KNOWS, MAYBE YOU ARE.

It would have been incredible if they would have had the chance to meet you. You would infer  have loved them all........Just to think how many more games of GO FISH & OLD MAID would have been played. How many more Barbie & Ken Dolls you would have dressed by the homemade clothes you made on your sewing machine.MY GOD THE MEMORIES. They bring a SMILE to my FACE & JOY to my HEART just remembering.

Jennifer named the newest great grand baby after you. IN HONOR Of YOU.
So we still have a Madeline amongst us.

Thank you for LOVING & CARING for me both in the life and the afterlife.

In a way I am happy you are no longer here to witness the divide in the country and among family.

Please continue to watch and love me from above as I continue to travel my journey.


This is a shot from your final resting place........You always told me that in dark times to trust there will be light again. You were right. Thank you for teaching me to TRUST that light we always shine on me if I look for it.

REST WELL

MADELINE CORINA
9/25/05-2/21/95

I LOVE & MISS YOU.

The POWER of P & P

The Power of Pussy & People.

Yesterday January 21, 2017

I marched in my very first ever March. It was the Women's March being held WORLDWIDE resisting the new President who was sworn in the day beforeto record low numbers.

There were over 600 marches worldwide with upwards of 4 MILLION PEOPLE.
Close to 300 new marches were added in just two days from the day before the Inaguration to the day after. PRETTY AMAZING.

It was a very POWERFUL & BEAUTIFUL show of SOLIDARITY in support of Woman's Rights, Climate Change, LGBT Rights, overall it was a March for HUMAN RIGHTS.

With the SAD & TRAGIC news of DT being elected as the 45th President of the United States.

His campaign was run by the new term ALTERNATE FACTS. (LIES)

He is a BULLY, LIAR, NARCIST & RACIST.

WE the PEOPLE are not buying his BULLSHIT.

The only people buying his bullshit are his cult followers who believe all he says. TRAGIC.

They don't realize that they who supported him have lost as well. There are no winners in this CHOICE.

To quote Audra McDonalds Tweet
Remember, tomorrow we are not crowning a king, or bowing down to a dictator. Tomorrow our new EMPLOYEE starts his TEMP JOB. We're the BOSS.

Lesson for all. FIND YOUR VOICE. SPEAK YOUR TRUTH, STAND UP & EXCERSIZE YOUR RIGHTS AS A UNITED STATES CITIZEN.

The MARCH was HISTORIC.

I was honored to participate in such an IMPORTANT EVENT IN US HISTORY.
The MOVEMENT was BEAUTIFUL and most importantly PEACEFUL.

Chapter One

Chapter One........Joe's World 2017

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What will the new year look like?

A year is a opportunity to BEGIN AGAIN. To RESET.

A new year is like the beginning of a new book. 365 pages.
We get to write our own story. For me 2017 has not started off well. I will not get into the details but it is not the story I want to tell. The beauty of writing is you get to edit and do rewrites. I have decided that I did not like the way things were unfolding so I have taken the liberty of hitting the pause button and taking my story in a different direction.

From day one I was not happy how things were going. I was/am determined to tell a different story.
I have 351 more pages/days to write and live this story.

I want to write/live a story I want to read/tell.

We decide by the CHOICE we make and the SITUATIONS we find ourselves in.

For me after these obstacles that I have been faced with right out of the gate, I plan on continuing on my journey of travel and adventure.

I have begun my year here in Colorado. It is beautiful but I am not sure it is the place for me. I plan on continuing on the seasonal job path. SO possibilities are ENDLESS.

Right now what I am looking at for 2017/2018
Antarctica,Alaska,Death Valley,Florida,Germany,LasVegas,NewYork.

TIME WILL TELL.

I plan to fill my year with ABUNDANCE,ADVENTURE,GOOD HEATH,JOY,PEACE,LOVE & TRAVEL.

I am going to try new and different things.  JUST SAY YES. NO FEAR.

I wish for all of you a year worth DOCUMENTING.

MAKE YOUR STORY A STORY PEOPLE WANT TO READ & LIFE PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE.

Reminder to self and others.  WE GET TO DECIDE.

Happy New Year! Happy New You!

BYE BYE 2016

IT''S A WRAP

2016 has been a year for the record books.

Personally it has been like watching a runaway train. I have said for years that Americans live in a JERRY SPRINGER WORLD.

The whole world got to witness the absurdity of the election with Donald Trump stealing the election due to a system that does not work. The Electoral

College.  UNBELIEVABLE?

But not surprising.

Just to be very CLEAR.  HILLARY CLINTON won the popular vote by nearly 3 MILLION VOTES.

WHat is INSANE to me is there is proof THE RUSSIANS HACKED THE ELECTION

Still Trump is being sworn in in January. I NEED SOMEONE TO EXPLAIN THIS ONE TO ME.

ABSOLUTE DISASTER.

Embarrassed to be a white man in RACIST AMERICA. THe wreckage will be revealed in time and be massive I am sure.

I WISH US ALL WELL.

NOT MY PRESIDENT EVER!'!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On a personal note my year has been pretty good. I left Los Angeles 8 months ago and said  YES to my new journey of TRAVEL & ADVENTURE.

My first stop was Alaska which was always a bucket list trip for me. I had the great pleasure of road tripping and working in Alaska over the summer and got to meet some amazing and beautiful souls that I was so blessed to have along for my summer journey. I than took an AMAZING road trip through Canada Such beautiful landscape that I was able to photograph.

The ABUNDANCE of beauty that was before my eyes is something that I will never forget.
Thankfully being a photograph much of the landscape I did capture for my portfolio.

I was than given an opportunity to drive this beautiful journey again and drove all the way back to Alaska to work at Chena Hot Springs. By saying yes I allowed myself to be there to shoot the NORTHERN LIGHTS.  TRULY MAGICAL. Also blessed to be reunited with a friend who I had not seen in over 25 years and facilitate their dream to visit Alaska and see the lights.

I AM BLESSED.

Before leaving to begin my journey I had the difficult decision to leave another group of co-workers who welcomed me with open arms.

I thank all that have traveled this journey with me this year. I am a better person fo crossing paths with all of you.

I am finishing my year her in the ROCKY MOUNTAINS of COLORADO.
Beautiful place to be. I am reunited with some of my Denali friends.

I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THE ADVENTURES OF 2017.

My wish for all of you,
 JUST SAY YES TO YOUR LIFE.LIVE YOUR DREAMS FOLLOW YOUR PASSIONS.

SITTING STILL

Sitting Still.

I always ask, what is the LESSON????

I think for me the lesson is THE GRASS IS NOT ALWAYS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE.

We/I  often think things are better elsewhere or we would be happier elsewhere.

NOT ALWAYS THE CASE.

I am a traveler with crazy wanderlust. I also get antsy and bored easily.

At 50 years old there is a lot to see and do. I want to SEE & DO as much as I can.

The one thing for me being my age and never really mastering the act of PATIENCE,  is after spending 30 years in Los Angeles I am pretty quick to move if something is not working.

I understand that when a farmer plants his crops he has to tend to the crops and WAIT before he/I/We are able to enjoy the HARVEST.

I am being tested right now.

I have a tendancy of not trusting my instincts and going against what I know is the right thing for me to do.

I am great at SELF SABOTAGE.  I just may have sabotaged myself again.

WHY??????? Because I have not learned to SIT STILL.

SOMETIMES THE BEST SOLUTION IS TO STAY PUT.

It is ok to ride out the STORM. Whatever your storm may be.

After a storm there is usually a RAINBOW, CLEAR SKIES & OPEN ROADS.

My lesson that I hopefully will get at some point.  IT IS OK TO RIDE OUT THE STORM.
 IT WILL PASS.

Wishing all of you RAINBOWS, CLEAR SKIES, OPEN ROADS  & LIGHT as your JOURNEY CONTINUES.

Peace & Blessings.