Hi! Sorry it’s been a while. Again. When I’ve taken breaks in the past for mental health, my time away was usually unplanned and shorter. This time, it just happened after I was diagnosed with kidney disease, and suddenly 10 months had passed. At first, the worst that could be said about my CKD was that it was an adjustment. But after a stay in the hospital, I’m working to accept a life that looks so very different from what I thought I’d have. Even Stage 4 CKD is one of those things that doesn’t make people “look sick,” but I am. And it does affect the way I’m able to do the jobs I’ve always loved, like travel photography. In the sense that I can no longer do it full time. Coming to terms with that in 2026 has been one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. Because I loved it so much that it became who I was, not just what I did. Nowadays I’ll be working all sorts of gig jobs. And background acting! Which I’ve found a particular love for. (Headshot by Hilary Jones.) Next mont...