I really miss going and sitting in coffeeshops. However, on this particular rainy Tuesday morning in San Salvador, there was a coffeeshop. A coffeeshop with delicious coffee, pastries, and sandwiches--all of which I took full advantage of. However, painted magestically on the wall was a painting of an old woman gripping a cup of coffee close to her mouth. Not only was the size of the painting enough to take your breath away, but details demonstrated the exact emotion she was feeling. 
 

Sitting below the painting, was the elderly woman depicted. I was nervous to speak to her because sometimes I find it hard to understand older people when speaking in Spanish. Thus, Mauricio, my boyfriend, introduced us and we found ourselves enthralled with her story. She shared about her past experiences and even cried while recalling traumitic events. 

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I was quite moved from her story and not only by her words, but by her hands. Like many other men and women in El Salvador, her hands were strong. The shape of the fingers was different. Her hands told a different story. They worked during a time of war. Took care of over ten children. They worked day and night to provide for a family. And, now rested peacefully on her daily cup of coffee. 

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This was not only my inspiration, but my motivation for this project. Below, I have documented photos and videos of individuals over the age of 65 with hands that tell a story. It is not only art but absolutely necessary to share the stories and experiences of others. Our hands are only a mere detail of the lives we lead and how future generations will carry on. These hands tell the story of the elders of El Salvador.