I’ve been working on a story about the Robbins family, who lost their home in a fire about a month ago. They’ve been the most gracious and welcoming people to have spent time with during the month of December and I am glad I got to know them. This started out as a sort of “who helps the helpers?” story because Jackie (pictured) and her family helped their neighbors out a lot during Irene. But ultimately, losing your home to a fire is just a shitty thing that happens and when I was photographing them at their motel, something else occurred to me. I was standing on a chair trying to get a picture of the family eating dinner next to the pool because they didn’t have the space to in their room — literally five people sitting in this totally unnatural environment, eating rice out of a tub and not caring — that it occurred to me that living is really only about the people who love you. So there’s that.
The Robbins moved into a temporary house three days before Christmas. They’re going to rebuild their house in the spring.

Stephen Arkwright, owner of the Irene-ruined Hartford Sign Co., and his wife, Kathy Manning, talk with the Rev. Nancy Vogele after services at West Hartford Congregational Church yesterday. Vogele, rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, led the service.