Ellen & Larry and Clare

Clare and Ellen: met in freshman year of high school (in honors English).
Clare and Larry: met in grade school.
But Ellen & Larry? They didn't meet until their 5-year high school reunion! They were married the following year.

It is with Ellen & Larry that Clare & I exchange the very-same-same anniversary card each year, http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2013-12-29

Clare & I celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary yesterday and Ellen & Larry celebrated their 32nd last month. They have two great kids and each is married to another great kid! By this time next year, Ellen & Larry should be grandparents! Yikes; when did we get so old?

The power and value of photographs? There are two photos I have shot over the years that have driven home the value of photographs and photography to me: the last good photo of my mom before she passed away suddenly, and the last photo Ellen may have of her dad. Clare & I would visit Ellen's parents whenever we visited our hometown and Bob & Eleanor were in town. On one occasion I got a nice, unposed shot of Bob in his favorite chair. After he passed away, I noticed Ellen or her mom had framed the photo and placed it in Eleanor's living room. I haven't seen it in several years, but it's one I'm glad I had the privilege to capture. Peace to you, Bob!

Dec. 2015 edit. Sadly, this is my last photo of Larry. He passed away suddenly this past July. He will be greatly missed.

Oh, this image? Taken with my point-and-shoot. And ETSOOI!
It had "Catholic halos" behind each of the subjects and it took me a while to edit-out the halos, or the flash shadows if you believe in that sort of thing. The thing is, I had my better camera with me. With the detachable flash with the pivoting head so I can bounce the flash. The next time I'm feeling lazy because I don't want to haul out the heavy, photographic artillery, I hope I can remember how much time I spent editing this shot from the P&S. I *have* to get better about that! But I feel self-conscious asking people to wait while I "set up." Sigh…

Finally, Happy Birthday! to our "baby," Grace, who turns 28 today. Again, when did we get so old?

1 year ago (“Time waits for…”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2013-12-30
2 years ago (“Proofreeder Wanted!”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2012-12-30
3 years ago (“Another family’s toy train tradition”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2011-12-30
4 years ago (“Grace’s birthday”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2010-12-30

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30th December 2014 30th Dec 14