The Memory

It is a long way to Mt. Everest, and we had to stay overnight at several places, including one stop in Huo Er.

We arrived around 3:00 p.m., when the sun was shining very harshly. I found this old woman in front of the dormitory.

After checking into the dormitory, I immediately grabbed my camera and thought of photographing her.

But I could not find any trace of her outside the dormitory.

A local said that her home was behind the dormitory, and that she lived there with her granddaughter.

So I followed the directions given to me and found the old woman.

While photographing, she kept mumbling something that seemed to be chanting. But no one could understand what she was saying.

She kept shaking her head. I had a feeling she might be suffering from essential tremor.

After photographing for a while, I could not get the results I wanted.

Just when I was considering whether to give up, she stopped mumbling and raised her head. In that moment, I saw another side of her.

“It is a complicated process to move from one expression to a new comprehension.”

She was so noble, so confident, her eyes flowing with a sacred glow.

She looked away and seemed to see the glory of yesteryear.

But in that brief moment, I also saw her vicissitudes and helplessness.

It is a complicated process to move from one expression to a new comprehension.

Even though I was able to capture the moment, I had mixed feelings. I felt heavy-hearted.

Memories - the other side. The very same person.