Missouri Photo Workshop: The Love Above by Tom Brenner

In August of 2022, more than 40 photojournalists from around the world came to Excelsior Springs as part of the 74th annual Missouri Photo Workshop (MPW). The photojournalists chose individuals throughout the community to document throughout their week-long stay. The Excelsior Citizen has partnered with many of the photojournalists to share the work they produced with our community.

The Love Above

By Tom Brenner

https://www.tombrenner.net/

https://www.instagram.com/tom_brenner/


William and Judy Mason, married for more than 50 years, live in separate apartments inside the high-rise at the Colony Plaza apartment building. 

After being separated from Judy for 9 months, William, a former Marine, and retired industrial arts teacher returned to live in his own apartment while he continues to take care of his ailing wife, who lives four floors above. Every day he travels by elevator to bring her cooked meals, to play games, and spend time with their shared dog Sadie.

“It’s your turn, babe”, Will notes while playing dominoes at the kitchen table upstairs. “Sometimes our short-term memory gets short”. Each day, after dinner and the games are finished, he descends to his apartment four floors below. 

William Mason, 81, sits with his dog, Sadie, inside his apartment living room at the Colony Plaza
apartments building in Excelsior Springs, Mo. William and his wife Judy, who are separated,
share the dog between their apartments inside the building. William sleeps in his reclining chair
after turning his bedroom into a metal shop.

William looks down the sights of his newly purchased muzzle-loading rifle inside his apartment
at the Colony Plaza apartments building. William, a former member of the Missouri State Rifle Team now collects and builds rifles as a hobby.

William places a cooked catfish dinner on a wheeling walker for his wife Judy, 78, inside his
apartment kitchen. Each day, William cooks, prepares, and delivers food to his wife four floors
above since her health began to decline in recent years.

William exits his apartment to transfer fresh food to his wife Judy, at the Colony Plaza building.
Each day, William cooks, prepares, and delivers food to his wife four floors above since her
health began to decline in recent years.

A curious neighbor peers around a hallway corner as William enters an elevator with his
wheeling walker. Each day, William and Judy meet to eat inside her apartment four floors above.

William enters the doorway to his wife Judy’s apartment ahead of dinner. Each day, William cooks, prepares, and delivers food to his wife four floors above since her health began to decline in recent years.

Judy, left, points to William asking for her People Magazine before taking a nap in her apartment. Every morning after breakfast, the couple plays a game of dominoes. “It’s your turn, babe”, Will notes while playing at the kitchen table. “Sometimes our short-term memory gets short”.

William and Judy play a game of dominoes at her kitchen table inside her apartment. The
the couple plays every day following their breakfast meal prepared by William.

Sadie, the Mason’s shared dog, retreats under Judy’s leg during a game of dominoes inside her
apartment.

Judy lays in her bed with their dog, Sadie before her afternoon nap. Despite their marriage of more than fifty years, Will and Judy live in separate apartments inside the high-rise building.

Judy, left, sits in her bedroom while William exits her apartment. Each day, William cooks, prepares, and delivers food to his wife four floors above since her health began to decline in recent years.

William pushes his wheeling walker through a hallway after exiting Judy’s apartment. After more
than 50 years of marriage, the couple has five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. “You
never know who they are ‘till after you marry ‘em”, Judy said shortly before William’s departure.


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