I love taking portraits of people, but I only take portraits of people I really like or love. I have to say I did fall in love a bit with Kathy, the proprietor of Papa Pete’s, a cozy, family-style cafe in Bennington, Vt.
She is warm, funny, honest and charismatic, eating breakfast there is like having breakfast with a favorite Aunt when you were a kid. The food is great, there is a ton of it, and it takes a few minutes to get it – it is lovingly prepared.
Kathy opened her cafe a decade ago along with her husband, who died in 2017. Her quite beloved dog Romeo died a year ago, she can’t talk of it without tearing up.
It was a hard year for her. She showed me photos of Romeo from her cell phone.
I gave Kathy the same advice I often give dog-grieving people with big hearts: get another dog, but she says her heart is not ready and she is too busy running the cafe – 5:30 a.m. to six p.m.
I invited her to listen to my radio show on WBTN in Bennington, but she said she wasn’t ready to hear about dogs. I gave her two of my books, “Second Chance Dog,” and “Saving Simon,” hopefully she might have the time to read them.
I told her she would make a perfect sponsor of “Talking To Animals,” but after talking to her, it’s not the time. She is still feeling the loss of Romeo too acutely.
Kathy has a super-size personality, she is one of those remarkable women who have faced and overcome pain and trauma and used her drive and people skills to build a beloved and successful business.
She has those people skills and a tough New Jersey business sense, she was born in the very tough town of Patterson.
I respected her right away, for her skills, her openness, her willingness to laugh, and her ability to make people feel welcome. And she is just a riot to talk to.
Rare gifts, it was a pleasure to take her portrait. She even liked it, I think. Papa’s Pete just joined our little universe at this beautiful edge of the world.
Every since I started taking photos, I was drawn to portraits of strong women. Happy to add Kathy to the gallery.
Jon : What a personality. You certainly have the KNACK of discovering such wonderful PEOPLE. I remember driving through Patterson NJ – a unique East Coast town! With a lot of flavor! Hope she will read the books and maybe foster a dog or volunteer but know she is busy running Pete’s. Another great KATZ discovery.