If you take pictures does that make you an art thief?

Be gentle and tolerant. Intimacy will grow, but will take time and cannot be rushed. If all goes well, soon you will become more familiar with each other, and handling will forge awkward fumbling and fondling into more satisfying and productive caresses and eventually into a comfortable working partnership. At this stage you will be ready to accompany your new camera into the world.

Think clearly, act sensibly, commit yourself to caring and work hard in order to discover joy. Then give the images back to the world from which they were taken.

If you cannot think of anything to say that is useful or enlightening about your images, then don't say anything. There are plenty of other people who would love to put words in your mouth.

I start a lot of photo projects but never seem to. . . .

I agree, intellectualism in photography is overrated. I just wish it could be replaced by common sense.

I'd like my coffin to be a camera obscura so I can see what's going on outside.