I'm just a fastidious, yet humble guy from a fairly modest home with a beautiful and witty wife, two amazing kids, a couple of pretty cool cats, a camera, some lenses, a tripod, and a burning desire to get out and photograph this world which leaves me rapt in awe.
- J. Eric Morris
"He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: his eyes are closed." - Albert Einstein
About me? Hmmm....so much to tell, so little space...
Well, to start with, my name is James. I'm known to my friends as "Eric." You can call me "James" or "Jim" or "Eric" or "E-Rock" or "Rip" or "Rested Traveler" or "RT" or just about anything you prefer, though. Just don't ever call me "Jimmy" or I'll have to kick your arse!
I am a man of constant morrow. OK...maybe I'm not always ahead of my time, but I know my place in it. I seem to always have an eye to the past, an eye to the future, and my bearings in the present. Perhaps one would believe that this takes some of the spontaneity out of life, but my own experience is that it lends to the spontaneity if nothing else.
I am missing three quarters of a thyroid and have damaged vocal chords as a result of that loss, too; however, given the right opportunity and mass quantities of beer, I can still belt out a solid tune for you. In fact, I can do a cover of the Motels' "Only the Lonely" that would make Martha Davis proud.
I've done a little bit of everything. I've been a student, an athlete, a student athlete, a bag boy (er, uh, make that courtesy clerk), a cashier, a customer service manager, an on-air personality, a "vocalist," a computer programmer, a database administrator, a support engineer, a son, a brother, a friend, a husband, a father, a photographer, etc.
After traipsing about the country for a couple of years (which seemed more like an eternity to me), I decided to get serious about life, add to my formal education, and (in spite of pledging to my friend, Melissa, that I'd swear them off) marry a Heather. My Heather is more of a Veronica, really. She rocks and I love her to no end!
Together, we have two absolutely amazing children. I never thought I'd make much of a parent, but I seem to be feeling my way through the process alright so far. I'm very proud of both of my kids. Give me a minute to bend your ear and I'll tell you all about them. If you'd rather I don't, that's cool too.
I'm an anal-retentive neat freak (i.e. fastidious). I tend to be overly patient when assertiveness may be called for, simply because I trust in others to do what's right without me forcing their hand into doing so. I suppose that makes me an optimist, too. My favorite color is blue. I like to drive fast. I listen to my music loud. The quickest way to get in my good graces is through Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, Dark Chocolate, or Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream. The quickest way to find yourself permanently camped out in my doghouse is to lie to me.
I must warn you that I suffer from a condition known as "perpetual wonderlust" (yes, this would explain the traipsing). That is to say: what drives me is the urge get out and explore places I've never been. I'm famous in my family for taking "short cuts" or "scenic routes" that add hours to my trip. They're often on a whim and with little or no preparation. Fortunately, I have an excellent sense of direction.
I usually have a camera in hand as I leave my house. Even when just out bopping around town, I'm often asked if I'm visiting because I look like a tourist with a camera dangling from my neck.
Additionally, I'm striving to once again become what I once was while balancing that with becoming what I want to become. If you know me at all, you know what I mean. *wink* ;-)
Thank you to John Bingham for the inspiration!
