James (#784) 02-08-15

James was sitting alone at the outdoor bar, Smokin' Joe's. I always check that place, as the light is almost always good. He was affable and happy to be included in the project. Also I quickly realized that James had been at the bar for a while.

He lives in Sarasota, but has moved around. He attended school in Englewood, very close to where I used to live. But his family moved west, and he graduated from High School in the Tetons. James Hated it; the population was 200, and he is a city boy. For a photographer, hating the Tetons seems like heresy - some of the most beautiful country on earth.

James works as a cook at a seafood restaurant called Bryans. His comment, “Don't go there. They won't let me use spices. Can you imagine vegetables steamed?” Well, I said that I occasionally eat steamed vegetables. “Really? Just steamed, without spice?” Becoming defensive, I began to equivocate. James continued, “I clean the fish, weigh the fillets, and broil. No spice. Clean, weigh, broil. Clean, weigh, broil.”

I guess I won't go there.

Bob