For Them.

Earlier this afternoon I posted a blog entry that maybe I was ready for a blog break. Nothing extreme or permanent, but just a break. 


A couple of friends (you dear friends you) posted in response to NOT take a break. While that was sweet, and I love you for it, it would not have stopped me. I can be stubborn (but you know that already).


I thought about it this afternoon when Claire repeatedly called me "Daddy." You see, she does not call me Mommy. She never has. It is always "Daddy, Daddy, Daddy." And while I think this is sort of cute, it would be nice to know that she knew who I was. I pleaded with her, "I'm Mommy, Claire. Can you say Mommy? Mommmmmmm-eeee."


"Daddy," she would say. But even louder than before.


Tonight I was looking through some old pictures of my family and I came across the one posted here tonight. It was a warm, sunny day in the middle of the summer. Wayne was going through another round of horrible chemo but mustered up the energy to go to ice cream with us at Bonnie Brae. It's an old, local ice cream shop that sports a red and white awning outside and old fashioned black and white tiled floors inside. While the flavor choices change, they always have multi-colored jimmies for the kids.


Wayne, not feeling good, came along anyway. And that's when I got this shot.


The "melted-ice cream-still-on-my-lips-pout" that I never want to forget.
The "I only want to snuggle with my Daddy" look.
The "I got a bit too much sun" flush on her cheeks.
The sweet way he talks to her is right here for all to see.


And I realized that is why I blog. I blog because I don't ever want to have pictures like this lost forever in my hard drive. Because I do not have time to scrapbook, and I am not the type to develop photos to put into albums ... 


This works for me - to tell my story. Their stories. Ours. 


And this story is essentially this:


Claire adores her Daddy. Prefers his lap to mine in the mornings when she wakes up. Toddles into his office, holding a book, chanting, "read, read." - And most days, no matter what else he is doing, his world stops for her.


And someone needs to say that. To witness that. And sometimes I really question my memory. It's horrible at best, and never - ever, ever, ever - do I want to chance losing moments like this.



And that's why I deleted my "taking a break entry" as there will be no blogging break.

Plus, the day she finally calls me "Mommy" you'll get to see a picture just as sweet, but with me included, too. Chances are, I will be flying high.


Happy New Year sweet friends and family. 
Love to you all.

Photography Class

I started my path down this photography road when I took Karen Russell's class last year. I learned so much about my camera, composition, and other technical aspects that have made the world of difference in my abilities.

She does not talk about advanced techniques or photoshop, but she gives the best information to get you started. The binder is THICK with info. Looking at it, I estimate it's about 6" tall with all the printed information in it.

She just announced people are now able to AUDIT her classes without the wait list (which is over 1,300 so far. Getting into her class is a very big deal.). Auditing means you have access to all the info, but you are not able to ask questions. It's a bit less expensive, and the major bonus is there is NO wait.

Just wanted to pass it along because it was a fantastic class.

More information here: Snapshots Class Info.