I'm Back...Well Sort Of
My Summer & A Plot Twist
Hello, dear readers!
I'm back—well, sort of, but I'll explain in a moment.
First, let me say how glad I am to be here and engaging with you again. Thank you to those who recommended my newsletter and followed and subscribed, even during my long absence. Welcome! I'm so happy you're here. While I may have been quiet, I was still watching and cheering my fellow Substackers. When I had the energy, I lurked from time to time, saw some fascinating photographs and collages, and read your stories. I liked, commented on, and shared a few to show my appreciation.
I'm sure some of you are wondering where I disappeared to. Well, the summer contract job wrapped up last week. I was part of a six-person Photo Editing Team. It was large-scale, the first I've ever worked on.
I had a wonderful experience.
I met some talented, high-caliber people from different stages of their careers and various backgrounds. The atmosphere was collaborative—everyone was always willing to pitch in and help, and every question was answered, no matter how small. It was a dream team in every sense. The learning curve was a bit steep, but I managed to navigate it. I felt so fortunate to be paired with Jamie, who was equally steady, precise, and kindhearted—with a distinct laugh that echoed throughout the room.
We had catered lunch every day, from Mediterranean, Thai, Mexican, and Asian-inspired healthy bowls to sandwiches and salads. The producers made sure all dietary needs were accommodated. When schedules allowed, most of us sat outside around a long table in a shaded corner of the parking lot. We shared personal stories and funny anecdotes. The conversation ranged from the latest TV shows and podcasts to viral moments on Instagram and TikTok to good-natured banter about everything else. There was plenty of self-deprecating humor too—being a creative bunch, we were comfortable revealing our quirks and making fun of ourselves.
The commute from the East Bay to Silicon Valley was long and exhausting—from driving our tiny red Smart car on the freeway to taking the commuter bus to riding the subway. The average one-way trip was 1.5 hours, stretching to 2 hours in heavy traffic. Over the 72 days I worked, I clocked 5,297 miles, equivalent to 7.8 days of commute time (thanks to Claude AI for helping me with the calculation). You can imagine how much I spent on gas and subway tickets!
There were plenty of days when I didn't have a ride home. Team members , without an ounce of hesitation, gave me lifts to the nearest BART station. The drive took 30 to 45 minutes depending on traffic. Midway through the project, Olesya, another photo editor, joined the team. Fortunately, she lived in the East Bay. The nearest station was just five minutes off her highway exit, so dropping me off was no trouble at all. I'm grateful that things fell into place—God provided.
During my downtime, I managed to create a few collages. I couldn't help it—making art is a lifeline that has gotten me through the hardest moments in my life, and I've written about this extensively in the past.
I continued collaborating with
on creating weekly digital collages to accompany the personal essays in her newsletter, A Considerable Age. I was also fortunate to meet Jose, an veteran editorial print designer from New York City, loved the medium. He would send Slack messages with links to artists' work—both those he had hired in the past and those who inspired him. He was a lifeline too.Analog collage from two credit card offer envelopes .The midnight blue with varnished type and the red as a complementary color drew me in.
Just as I was gearing up for a full return to Sundays with Stella, a plot twist arose. My brother GT invited us to visit him in Paris next month. He reminded me that I still had an unused ticket from last year.
The timing was perfect—the contract job had ended.
Things move swiftly when they're meant to be. Traveling off-season made airfares reasonable. The voucher also covered a small part of T’s fare, so it was even more affordable. GT's text came in the early morning, and by the end of the day, I had confirmed the bookings.
Given this new development, dear readers, it didn't feel right to step away again. I marinated on this for a few days: How can I pivot to make Sundays with Stella sustainable while I'm traveling?
Here is what I came up with. Instead of writing in long format, I'll be sharing more visual imagery, both photographs and/or collages, along with brief observations: think micro moments while on the road. It may change again midway, but this is the plan. I’m not sure of the frequency yet but I’m hoping for at least 1-2 times per week. Let this be a warm invitation to come along with me on this journey.
My deepest gratitude for your patience through all these transitions.
Stay tuned and see you all next Sunday!
Introducing: Marica Notecards
These cards honor my sister Marica’s gift for small, thoughtful gestures. Each one transforms collage pieces into meaningful connections, carrying both art and intention.
The collage “Cords and Chords” is a wordplay that captures both her love of gadgets and our memories of learning and playing guitar together in high school.
Share heartfelt words of encouragement or gratitude, or offer a simple reminder that someone is loved.
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I am so happy you are back! Whatever you are sharing with us is great. And what a great travel opportunity. Enjoy! Looking forward to all the images.
🤗😘❤️🫶