Vera, and the power of coincidence. In October of 2017, I made a detour trip to Diablo Lake for the first time, and stopped to take in the view at the top. A few moments later, I was approached by Vera, who asked about the camera I was using. This led to a longer conversation, about her own career as an artist, and the journey she was currently on, traveling to a trailhead by any means possible. With time to spare and a feeling that a larger purpose was at play, I gave her a ride back to her camp to pack up the gear, and dropped her off at the trailhead up the highway. It was an encounter I had never experienced until then, and opened my eyes to the power of lowering the social shield we all carry to make room for some unique human connection. Fast forward to almost half a year later, where I find myself in Austin, TX for the first time. Remembering that Vera worked at the University, I contacted her again and we linked up for a tour of the campus. Over the past year, I’ve encountered ...