Packie & The Boot

If there was one experience I had to single out to choose as the biggest inspiration of this trip it dates back just over two years ago. It was the last week of June 2004 and I found myself in London with a group of 20 other college students. We spent six weeks studying photography between England, Scotland, and Czech Republic. It was the greatest six weeks of my life.

The first two weeks of our trip was in London and we were assigned to do a documentary photography project. After walking around the neighborhood me and another girl stumbled over this little pub called “The Boot.” Its red and yellow stood out on the street and something about it captured us. We grabbed lunch and afterwards I told myself that’s what I would do for the assignment. It would be one of the most rewarding assignments in my life.

The most difficult part was breaking the ice and introducing myself to the pub owner, a delightful older man. I didn’t know what he would think of this young American college kid coming in with a camera. It wasn’t long after a brief intro that the owner, Packie, was telling me the long history of the pub, dating back hundreds of years. He followed it up by showing me around and pointing out different things on the wall. I was inspired.

After a few visits we were no longer strangers and more like friends. He asked me about the USA and I asked him about England. Before I left London he offered to pick me up on his own time and drive me to a Gaelic football game an hour outside of the city where he sponsors a team.

That following Thanksgiving my friend Beth headed to London. I sent her with a few dozen photos from the pub and she handed them to him in person. It wasn’t long after I received a Christmas card with his wishes. It will forever be a memorable place and an experience of great influence. -xo