I'm a cheater. A romantic cheater.

Since Dan is the first person to encourage me to write since my thesis advisor (Hi Dr. Aarts!) and previous to that the teacher who enrolled me Power of the Pen in 7th grade and thought, erroneously, that I could write, here I go...

I am however, a cheater. The following prompt is from the Imagination Prompt Generator. I think that if I get in the habit I may write more often.

"Are there any family heirlooms in your possession? Tell about them and how you came to acquire them."

I am wearing one of my family heirlooms. It's a ring that belonged to my maternal great-grandmother, from her first marriage (the one that produce my grandma). It is white gold, carved in an Art Deco type style. It has facets and millegrain and happens to fit me perfectly. :) My mom first acquired this ring. She's had it since she was around 10, I think. I've known about it for years. She never wears it; she doesn't even wear her own wedding ring! I personally acquired it in June when I was dressing for a wedding we were going to. I find something romantic about wearing my great-grandmother's wedding ring to a wedding. When I was younger, it didn't fit my chubby fingers but now it does. So, I put it on in the first weekend of June and have had it on ever since, through two more weddings this summer! In fact, I have a tan line from it.

My second family heirloom is very similar; it is my paternal great-grandmother's wedding ring. From her only marriage. It is Pap PJ's mother's ring. It's more floral, romantic and with tiny diamond chips. It fits my middle finger, as opposed to the other ring, which sits on my ring finger. This ring came to my on my 21st birthday, from my grandparents. It was accompanied by a note saying how proud Grandma Powers would have been of me and to see me wear it. I cried, naturally. I wore this ring the summer I got it until I got a tan line, also.

These are the only heirlooms I have, really. For some reason my family doesn't have many things that are considered heirlooms. Unlike Byron's family which has a clock which is in its 5th generation, I think. I guess it comes from coming from the Old Country. :) I think I'll keep track and good care of these rings so I can hand then down one day and tell my daughter or granddaughter about their origins. That'll have to do.

On being a wedding photographer.

The most important thing I learned this past weekend? I do not want to be a wedding photographer. Previous to actually being an employed photographer, I held these romantic, lofty, idealized thoughts of what being a wedding photog would be like. I could capture these amazing moments, things that other people didn't see, and strike the bride and groom with my eye and numerous talents. By the end of the night, thought, I had determined that while I may enjoy wedding photography as an art form and have a little bit of an 'eye' for the photos, I'm never going to be a wedding photographer. As it turns out, I don't have the drive, desire, or technical skill to do so. And, at least when it comes to weddings of familiar persons, I want to have a good time with my family and friends, laugh at the antics and relax around the table. I don't want to be jumping up every few minutes to go record something else.

So, I don't want to be a wedding photographer. Perhaps I'll learn more about my photographic future this summer when I test my wings as a senior portrait photog for my cousin Brittany. I'll keep you posted.

Hi Dan!

I often get accused of not posting to this blog. (Lies! All lies!) So here's tribute to my cousin Dan. A new post, just for you. Can't wait to meet your baby girl!




This is not Dan. This is the DJ.