Portraits of Americans: Tennessee

[peacetraveler22]

The mind is often engaged in trickery, particularly when it comes to human relations. We create illusions and fantasies about others, mentally molding them into the person we wish them to be rather than letting actual words and actions be the guide. In relationships, this is usually a very dangerous game. Women, as overly emotional creatures, are probably more susceptible to this phenomenon than men. In my younger years, I was a master at twisting the actions and words of others, conforming them to my particular needs at the moment. But with age comes wisdom and I think I'm now a good judge of character, though human and certainly capable of being deceived. Usually I'm only close with a few people at any given moment and these people I know extremely well, so well that I can almost read their minds and anticipate their actions and responses in most situations. People still disappoint and surprise me on occasion, but it's now much easier to weed out toxic people and conserve my time and energy for those worthy of it.

Sometimes this game of illusions can be fun, particularly in travels. In every city, I photograph people from afar and occasionally in close proximity with permission. Certain faces, smiles or behavior attract my attention and then my mind begins to wander. Who is this person? From where do they come? What's their life story? Has it been an easy or hard road for them? During a recent trip to Tennessee we encountered a lot of colorful people. A joy to photograph them and many wanted to take time to chat. Something recently where everyone on the street wants to speak with me. I have no idea why, but it's a good thing for travel stories.

I know most of my readers are intelligent, but how creative are you? Let's play a game and focus on the people in the following portraits and cover photo.

What do you think about them? What's their story, profession, or passion in life? I've already created my own visions of them, some are young children and just starting their journey through life. Pick one or more people from the portraits and tell me what you think. As an incentive for participation, I'll send a gift from America to the most creative story in the comments. I'll pick the winner on Wednesday evening.

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Happy New Year! Later in the week, I'll start a series of posts about Tennessee.

Comments

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

You've never been to a black gospel church on Sunday? :)) The women there are very dressed up, wearing fabulous decorative church hats. I see the photos on Facebook. You got stuck on the Russian roads? Lots of snow, but I heard from others that in Moscow it's unseasonably warm. Most of the U.S. is in a deep Arctic freeze the next few days - Russian style weather! :)

[qi-tronic.livejournal.com]

This road where we got stuck is really deep in the countryside.
We've never been so far from the civilization before :))

We tried to find the stone in the forest on which one of the most famous Russian saints Serafim of Sarov prayed in solitude for many years.
But we did not find it.

Otherwise our journey was successful.
We saw several historical and energetically strong places: Nizhny Novgorod, Arzamas, Diveyevo, Murom.
We did all these Christian rituals like kissing the sacred relics, etc.

But the most shoking discovery was when we suddenly stopped for a night in some small town of Vyksa which we knew nothing about, and found there a 4+ stars hotel with perfect service :))

It's not a joke. Here it is:
batashevhotel. ru

[qi-tronic.livejournal.com]

But their English needs some improvement... :)))

"
The hotel Batashev is situated in the historic city center in a short distance from the family estate of Andrey and Ivan Batashev brothers, the noblemen who had founded Vyksa Steal Works and a plant village more than two centuries ago.
"

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a great trip and the hotel looks nice! I've seen some really horrible English on foreign sites. This hotel's website isn't so bad. :) I'm 95% sure that I'll return to Russia in February so I'll have a chance to evaluate the service once again.