No. 0004 // Cherishing, Remembering

A short post today as our town grieves a loss

I lived in a large city for most of my adult life, until COVID. I loved the anonymity, the daily starting over, the daily discovery. I still like those things. But when I landed in the small town of Sag Harbor, I was surprised and delighted by the way seeing people I knew repeatedly wasn’t actually annoying or creepy, as I'd assumed it would be; instead, it put a spring in my step. It felt good. People knew each other, recognized each other’s kids and said hello to them respectfully, and kept up with each other with encouragement and curiosity.

When a friend recently had major surgery, the community rallied around her immediately and fully, with understanding and total no-strings-attached help. It was absolutely amazing.

Unfortunately, there are more occasions to show our strength as a community. Fortunately, this beautiful community immediately stepped up with love.

Sag Harbor is grieving today.

We lost one of our own, a beautiful 6th grader named Cesar Albarracin Guncay, taken too soon in a tragedy on a school trip. There are no words for what his family is walking through right now.

I met Cesar last year when he was a fifth grader; I was photographing him for the school’s Wax Museum project. He was a wonderful person. Our community is gutted.

As a community, we show up. That’s what we do. I’m proud to be a part of the Sag Harbor family. Tomorrow, everyone is wearing blue, for Cesar.

A GoFundMe has been set up for Cesar’s family. This is the link. If you can give, give. If you can share, share. Every bit of it matters.

I love this village and the people in it. Hold your kids a little tighter today.

🤍 Please share widely.

Ana