Friday, July 26, 2013

Friday's Letters

Dear Ashley,

I had so much fun on our photo shoot on Friday. What a natural you are in front of the camera. I swear, if I ever get asked to take anyone's picture in the future that I know I'll have trouble posing, I am taking you for inspiration. I can't wait to do it again. Next time we take Matthew and the kids, too. It's time for a family shoot!


























Dear Fellow VW Lover,

You caught me in the act of shooting your VW Bus. How could I not resist? It was evident from the moment I saw your bus appear out of nowhere in the lane in front of me that it was well loved. On impulse, I followed you through the parking lot, hoping that you would pull into one of the parking slots. While you were walking into the store, I was stealing shots of your Bus from all angles. But the best part of the whole thing was when you came up from behind me cool with what I was doing. As we chatted for a moment, I was overcome with the desire to take your picture beside your trophy. When I asked, you paused for a moment suddenly uncomfortable, but then agreed. You may never know this, but when you agreed, you made my whole day.




Dear Pie Hole,

You make a darn good Mexican Chocolate pie and a pretty decent Americano. Can't wait to see you again Sunday. Kind of hoping you won't be out of the Banana Cream pie then.



Dear Grandbabies,

I love you so much. I wish that we lived so much closer to one another, but no matter how far about we are, I will always be here for you. I will always love you. And I will always spoil you as much as possible (without getting mommy and daddy mad at me).


























Dear Brie,

I had the best time on Sunday with you. I'm so glad your plans fell through. I'm so glad you were okay with it. I'm so glad you were willing to humor me by going to the Arts District. I'm so glad that you were in the mood to get your picture taken and that you were as inspired by the area as I was. I'm glad you were willing to stop at the Pie Hole, too, knowing that pie isn't your cup of tea. Ironically, neither is tea! The best part of the whole thing was just spending time with you laughing and exploring.



Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Black and White

I've been in love with black and white which seems a bit crazy because it's usually the color before my eyes that begs me to taking the shot in the first place.

It's the classic timelessness of black and white that warms my strings of my heart. I don't know that younger generations will ever feel that same pull, the one that touches the depths of the soul, tugging at memories long forgotten.

Color? Or Black & White?


















































Color? Or Black & White?



























Color? Or Black & White?



Wordless Wednesday


Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Endless Possibilities

The things you learn in a car full of woman heading down south for a day trip to San Diego. Especially a car full of these woman with whom a bond of trust has been lovingly forged.






































With them there is no need to pretend. It's not just that they know the truth, it's that they won't judge. But you better expect honesty. The kind that comes with love and assurance.

Halfway through the drive we hit a pocket of traffic that looked ominous. Improvising quickly, we ended up driving along the ocean, driving past picturesque towns that we would have missing whizzing along on the highway.






































I was so thankful I took my cousin up on her offer to drive or I would have missed so many photo opportunities. Little did I know that she lived in the area when she was first married so she knew what she was doing.






































It was lovely to sit back and just enjoy the scenery which included a little side trip to lovely La Jolla.


























Having no itinerary or agenda made the possibilities endless. We were all willing to just go with the flow.






































I had been worried about keeping up, but thankfully that wasn't even an issue. I felt stronger than I had felt in a while.

We finally made it to San Diego, not that it mattered, but for the record we did where we roamed the streets of Old Town, eating and window shopping our way through.



















































And as a added bonus, we were spoiled on the drive home by the most gorgeous sunset we had seen in a while.



Monday, July 22, 2013

Weekend Heaven

It was weekend heaven. Even better than that, it was long weekend heaven.


























From Thursday to Sunday, it was all about family, photos and fun.


























It was about being on the go and having the energy for it.


























It was about rest at the right time and being okay with it.


























It was about honest sharing and whole-hearted laughter.


























It was about yummy food and heartwarming company.


























It was about being adventurous and being in the moment.






































It was about quality and quantity.



It was about the blessing of God and never forgetting the things he has done.



It was about my body keeping up with my mind throughout the whole time.



I will write more. I must write more just so I never forget all the things that made this weekend so heavenly.


Friday, July 19, 2013

Friday's Letters

Dear Ashley,

Thank you for sending me pictures and videos of the children every now and then. They always lift up my day and make me smile. You are a wonderful daughter-in-law and a blessing in my life. I can't wait to see you this weekend.






































Dear Those Involved in the Making of the Movie 42,

From the first previews, I was curious, but then I was afraid that I would be disappointed. Would the movie be too preachy? Too fake? But from the opening credits I was hooked. From the actors to the dialogue to the scenes, there wasn't a moment I didn't enjoy.




Dear Dodgers,

July 13th ranks up there on one of my top ten days of my year. A two hit shut out, a one run win, followed by the screening of 42 where those of us in the cheap seats known as the Pavilion were able to watch it from the field. It was good times. Very good times.



Dear Arlene:

I'm so glad I took you up on the offer to drive. It was a wonderful day, from the car ride to the side trip through Carlsbad, La Jolla & Encinitas, to the ice cream and dinner. I want to do it again and again and again. The honest conversations in the car was perhaps the highlight of the ride. That and being able to take pictures since I wasn't the driver.




Monday, July 15, 2013

My Baby Loves

I got excited when I saw the weather channel forecast, 84 degrees for the rest of the week. Perfection!

And then I realized this was for Paris, not my hometown.


























For a moment I seriously thought about getting on a plane headed for France. After all my passport is still valid.

But then I remembered that Friday I get to see my baby loves.






































My apologies to the French, but they are a thousand times better than the old Eiffel Tower.

Watching 42 on the Field of Dream

Dodger game followed by the showing of 42 at Dodger's stadium. What could be better? She's been wanting to go to a Dodger game, again, for a while.



























She also wanted to see the movie, 42. Sometimes she surprises me.


























The next thing I knew, JJ and Mandie were going to join us. Even better.


And, at the last minute, Greg was able to get a seat just one seat apart from ours. We would depend on the kindness of strangers to move over a seat so he could sit next to us instead. I'm happy to report that kindness does still exist in this world. I had no doubt.






































From the onset, there was something special in the air. Even with heavier than normal traffic on the way in due to an overturned tanker on the five. Even with seats in the sun on a hot summer afternoon.


























The crowd was enthusiastic, not obnoxious. 



The pitching, from both teams, stellar, but Zack Grienke was the better ace and the Dodger's won, on a night that they should, what with honoring Jackie Robinson and all. It took just 2 hours and 15 minutes to record the victory.


























As luck would have it, those sitting in the Pavilion section were allowed to watch the movie on the field. 



What is it about stepping onto a baseball field that seems to make dreams come alive and turns grown ups into excited little children. 



It was magical. 






































Watching the movie with thousands of other baseball and Dodger fans. Clapping and cheering on men who deserve, even decades later, to still be honored. 






































Answering Brie's questions about those moments of history that were shamefully part of our past. 

Friday, July 12, 2013

Friday's Letters

Dear July,

Just yesterday it seemed it was the first and now it's already the 12th, where have you gone?? For as much as I was dreading you, you have been a pleasant surprise, this week especially. The weatherman was calling for hot, hot days and instead you've given us weird, wacky weather with balmy skies and cooler than normal temperatures. I'm loving it!






































Dear Eliz,

It was such a sweet surprise to get some pictures in the mail last week, especially since they were pictures of me. And, boy, am I shocked that I'm even excited about it because who in the world loves pictures of themselves?? Lately I have been noticing that I'm rarely in the shot and what with this cancer thing hanging over me, I should would like to leave some proof that I was here with a smile on my face. The self-portraits I've been doing are okay, but they are nothing compared to the ones you sent me where I'm in the frame with family that I love.


Dear Acki,

I'm so glad you're taking your summer photography class and even happier that you're trusting me to help with your projects. It excites me to share my love of photography. This week, I must admit, I came home a bit tired, but hanging out, talking about shooting and then going out and actually doing it was so much fun. Let's follow through on our plans to go to Union Station, Farmers Market AND Old Towne Orange. It'll make my old soul happy and young again. (and let's take Brie because I know she wants to come!)






































Dear Sentinel Log,

You are the bane of my existence at work. I wish you would go away but I know that you aren't. I need to find a better way to manage you. And soon. Or my name. Will be mud. Or slacker. Whichever.