^i listened to this song like 10x while editing their photos…. Press play while to cruise through???^

In a few weeks Ill be leaving japan, and sadly enough leaving friends like this… Ones that have become Family.

Covid has been a bitch this year, keeping people at a distance, for good reason, but its still a little crushing. We dont get to spend the time we once took for granted, with people we are on short time lines of living close to… Now here we are, getting ready to say Good Bye.

I met Cassie a few years ago on a playground, chasing her boys, full of intoxicating color… We quickly set up a photoshoot together where I documented a day with her Family at a skatepark down in Nagasaki, and rapidly fell in Love with her DogTown Boys—- We have been close friends since, traveling around Kyushu together, getting lost on cliffside dirt roads, exploring waterfalls, hanging at parks with the kids or just chatting it up in her backyard over wine and laughter. She has been there for me when I just need someone to vent to, talk to—- She is a Navy Wife I feel very connected to, loving this overseas lifestyle yet hating the crap outa the deployments.

Rocky and Ares have my HEART. I dont know how Mom and Dad keep up, bursting with energy, but Man they will take on the World someday and flip it on its head! Kindred souls in their brotherhood…Every time I get to hang with them is a blast, and this day we spent up in Unzen was one of my favorites…

We took an almost 2 hr drive from Sasebo up through Unzen Town, ending at a Maple Garden- the colors were Bananas beautiful… Marigold and Amber and Crimson- Golly… Good find Cassie! Its a little past peak Foliage, so many of the leaves blanketed the grounds, which made for an awesome Battle! Chasing the boys through the woods while playing with their parents, delight and chaos and roaring laughter under the deep afternoon canopy of color was so dang fun!

Our next stop was the Nita Pass, which is a road up and around Mt Unzen… this takes you through the parking lot where you can pull off for a Cable Car ride to the Mountains top, from there hoping on hiking trails- The views were spectacular, which really helped balance out the COLD. The couple of hours spent on the Mountain were Magic. The light changed, the sky changed…. Blue haze to milky Orange and Pink. Cass and Hector are so naturally playful with each other, an ora their boys feed on, so documenting a day with them, their love, connection, is a pure joy… Like Im welcomed into their special bond, not just as a witness with a camera…

Im so glad we made this day happen, before Kyushu closed back in around us…. Another Memory for the Books, and long overdue…

Thank you so damn much Centeno family, for everything… I say this with teary eyes, but Man, Ima miss yall dearly…. PLEASE come see us in Sicily!!! Im sure our paths will cross again… I love you so… xoxo