Saturday, December 27, 2008

--12_15_2008_Withdrawing from a family Pt. 2_bv--

--12_15_2008_Withdrawing from a family Pt. 2_bv--

The Seattle area happened to go through a cold spell while Joy and her family's heater was on the fritz. When the local American Legion heard of the family living in the cold they paid for them to stay in an extended stay hotel through the cold spell and until their heater could be fixed or replaced. I met up with Joy and her daughters early one morning to follow the beginning of their day from the hotel to school and dealing with the cold.

I have great respect for anyone in the armed services or any sector of work that forces you to be away from your family for long spans of time. I couldn't imagine leaving a family and being thousands of miles away for over a year. Not to mention all while putting your life in danger. No matter your views on any war the highest amount of respect should be given to those who volunteer and sacrifice so much.

Thanks for checking in.

Best,
Brad Vest


Joy Mack catches a quick break after brushing her daughter's, Megan, 6, hair, inside their room at the Crossroad Economy Studios Extended Stay America hotel, Tuesday, December 16, 2008, in Puyallup.
(Brad Vest/Seattle Post-Intelligencer)


Joy Mack prepares her daughters lunches as Megan, 6, gathers her clothes to get dressed while at the Crossroad Economy Studios Extended Stay America hotel, Tuesday, December 16, 2008, in Puyallup. The American Legion is paying for their stay during the cold spell since their homes heater isn't working properly.


Joy Mack shares a moment with her daughter, Megan, 6, at the Crossroad Economy Studios Extended Stay America hotel before starting their day on Tuesday, December 16, 2008, in Puyallup.


Joy Mack and her daughter Megan, 6, wait outside the bathroom door while Mack's older daughter Kori, 11, cries inside of their hotel room bathroom because she didn't want to go back to the family's home and wait in the cold for her school bus, Tuesday, December 16, 2008, in Puyallup. The American Legion is paying for the family's stay during the cold spell because of the faulty electricity and heating in their home. Joy Mack allowed her daughter, Kori, to skip school and spend the day with her at work on Camp Murray.


Joy Mack and her daughters Megan, 6, and Kori, 11, step into the cold to head to work and school respectively leaving their room at the Crossroad Economy Studios Extended Stay America hotel, Tuesday, December 16, 2008, in Puyallup.


Joy Mack, center, and her daughters Megan, 6, right, and Kori, 11, left, take the elevator down to their car at the Crossroad Economy Studios Extended Stay America hotel, Tuesday, December 16, 2008, in Puyallup.


Joy Mack and her daughters Megan, 6, and Kori, 11, prepare to leave the Crossroad Economy Studios Extended Stay America hotel, Tuesday, December 16, 2008, in Puyallup.


Joy Mack holds her daughter's, Megan, 6, hand as she drops her off for daycare at Camp McChord Air Force Base before heading to work at Camp Murray on Tuesday, December 16, 2008, in Puyallup.


Joy Mack kisses her daughter, Megan, 6, goodbye while dropping her off at daycare before heading to work on Tuesday, December 16, 2008, in Puyallup.

3 comments:

Patrick A. Traylor said...

Great stuff. Definitely would be cool if you could follow this for longer... if only you weren't leaving in a matter of days.

Patrick A. Traylor said...

My two favorite are the mirror shot and the one where they're waiting for the girl in the bathroom. I'm always a sucker for grabbing an element in the mirror but it especially works here since it shows how they're just going about their daily routines living in this cramped, sterile space. The other one doesn't hit me over the head right away as a great moment but after reading the caption and I keep looking at it, it grows on me more and more.

Roxana said...

i really like the mirror shot, too. usually its kind of cliche, but you used it well here. you have a nice story here. score. :)