I ran into Reynaldo at the now abandoned Centenarian Ceiba park in Ponce. I was there to pay my respects - we used to visit when I was a kid, and in the 14 years that had passed since my last visit to this park, the canalization of the river that fed this 500+ year old Ceiba caused it to dry out and die. Reynaldo and I spoke for a bit, he lives in the projects next to the park. He worked for the municipal department and in turn directly with the tree and this park for 7 years. I couldn't keep him for too long, he told me he was on his way to his friend's house...something about her either selling or gifting him her tomb. Dying is expensive, take what you can get I guess.
We crossed paths with Carlos on our way to Jayuya one day in February of 2024. He was outside cleaning the road in front of his house, because so many people litter as the pass through. He's 89 years old and going strong.
35mm Color Negative film, 2024
Carlos told us that he was born right there, but in a wooden house that used to be on the same plot - one of 15 siblings. When I asked him how long he'd been living here, he told me "I've been here, since I was born." Imagine that, 89 years in the same spot. He put a zinc roof on his house after the earthquakes happened, so he wouldn't have to worry about a concrete roof collapsing on him.
35mm Color Negative film, 2024.
