The parallels between Dermot Kennedy’s Chicago event and his New York City busking in December were not lost on me. In December I was exhausted and hope broken and falling apart in every category of human entropy. And that wasn’t the worst of it. But I showed up, camera in hand, to Washington Square Park. I remember feeling hopeful for the first time in a long time.
Jump ahead to August. I’m in a new city, a familiar one—and dare I say, my favorite one. Suddenly the quality of life that felt exhaustingly out of reach feels vividly close. I feel happy, found, quietly and preciously peaceful. Better days came, just like the song I heard in December promised me they would. And today I showed up, yet again, camera in hand, to Wrigley Field. The hopeful feeling still exists in this place.
And despite the distance and the differences, still these songs have followed me all the way, these two busking events bookending two parallel moments in two starkly different seasons—both literally and in my life.
I’m so grateful to be trusted with such beautiful days. Thank you to everyone who chatted with me. Your echoing back of the melodies into the air is what makes those spaces feel hopeful and beautiful: never stop singing. (P.S. if you see yourself and want a copy of your photo, please email me at estorie@outook.com!)
