"For Lindsey"

May 10, 1992,

a Sunday morning, & it happens to be "Mother's Day".

It's around 7:15, which, for this household, is "sleeping in".  Mom is still sprawled in bed, half asleep.  Suddenly she's aware of something, a brown paper bag (which says on it: "To: Mom (Becky), From "the wild bunch".), plunked down beside her, followed by a rather noisy crew; at which point she remembers this is "Mother's Day".

Her response must have been disappointing (esp. to Daddy - Ken), partly because her brain was still half asleep, & partly because the gift itself was not self-explanatory.  (Inside the bag is 2 hard-cover books, one red, one black ("they're writing books", said Lindsey, probably in answer to my blank stare), a 24 exp. roll of Kodak 200 film, & a puzzling little piece of paper saying: "Gift certificate..., Issued to..., in the amt. of... & authorized by"...)

... when Mommy says maybe she'll write in 1 book for each of the girls, Lindsey says "I hope I'll have the red one."

Which brings us to several Christmases ago, when Lindsey and Carly, opening two identically shaped gifts, find two books - Lindsey's red and Carly's black.  I haven't read the whole book yet, not because I don't want to or it's too long, but because I figure these things are better savoured than devoured.  I mean, this book was written over 13 years... it just feels wrong to read it all in one sitting.  Thus far it has certainly been enjoyable (even hilarious at times), and enlightening.  Expect to see little excerpts from it popping up here every once and awhile...  

Weddings

I thought, this being my very first blog post ever, I would wow everyone with my stellar photographic skills.  As such, I have included four pictures for your enjoyment.  I will warn you, however, I have somewhat of a penchant for "artistic" shots, which aren't necessarily popular with the general public.  As my cousin so eloquently put it when he saw me taking pictures at our other cousin's wedding, "Oh, don't even try to do those artsy pictures of the centerpieces..."

But I'm getting ahead of myself.  Several weekends ago I had two weddings to attend, which wouldn't have been a big deal if one of them wasn't a family wedding.  It was the first time I had been to one, and I didn't realize all the implications until it was actually happening.  There's the extended family to visit with, favours to label, napkins to wrap, reception hall to set up, etc. etc. etc.  Don't get me wrong, though... it was great.  Just a little hectic.  The other wedding was much more relaxing, since all I had to do was show up.

Above is the beautiful bride from the first wedding, and below a product of my discovery of the candlelight function on my camera...

And here is my cousin (note the softness of the picture - some would call it blurriness, but what do they know?):

Unfortunately this is the only picture I got of her.  That's what photographers are for, I guess!

And here is a place-setting from the reception.  When we were setting it up, the placement of the favour and spoon were much debated, and we probably changed it up at least four times (much to my grandpa's chagrin)!