I've mentioned before how much I love my Tribe. Nancy is one of my tribe members. Geographically she lives the closest to me, and we've shared rides to and from class several times. I'm several years older than her sons, but I think sometimes she looks at me like another one of her kids. Nancy is awesome, a complete bohemian trapped in conservative middle class suburbia and as a result we have had some really fascinating discussions.
I've been wanting to send Nancy a note for awhile just to tell her how great I think she is, so this week I took that opportunity. I sent some love and wished her luck on our upcoming assignments. We don't have class next month, which I think both of us will miss from a social standpoint but to be honest, I'm welcoming the academic break... this last semester was a rough one. I'm not sure Nancy's much of a writer, but I hope my note brings a smile to her face. I'm hoping we can grab a meal together or some library time or something to make up for missing class together next month so I don't have to wait until September to see her again!
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Letter #95 - Jaya
This summer I got to spend an entire afternoon with Jaya while I photographed her daughter's senior portraits. Jaya is my parent's backyard neighbour, and she and her family have become good friends. I wanted to write Jaya because she is such an incredibly thoughtful woman and always sending me greetings via my mother. I miss getting to chat with her and her family as much as I used to since I got married and moved out of my parents home, but I hope that sending this note will let her know I still think of her often!
Letter #94 - Sharilyn
My mother is daughter #4 of 5 in her family. Her oldest sister Sharilyn lives out of state and I don't get to see her much. She is also a creative type, and very passionate about a lot of things in life. She's also one of the people in my life that I'm bad at keeping in regular touch with, so I decided to send her a note. I thanked her for the lovely birthday email she sent me and wished her a good summer. I don't have a very close relationship with her, but wanted to make the effort to stay in touch, I know it bothers her that she doesn't have a closer relationship with her nieces and nephews because most of us haven't lived close to her for most of our lives so I try to be conscious of that and keep in better touch.
Letter #93 - Daphne
I was raised to believe that people can in fact stay in your life forever. Not physically per se, and of course we all die eventually, but I come from a line of really great corresponders, as I've mentioned before. Daphne is a woman who has been in my life since before I took my first breath. She's the woman who delivered me. I've been thinking about her lately, and in the course of this project that normally prompts me to dig out my stationary.
Daphne is much closer friends with my parents, but when she found out I was engaged she wrote me a beautiful letter of congratulations, reflecting on some of her memories of me and my family. I decided to send her a note to just say hello and let her know she was on my mind. We share a love of cats, so I told her about our kitties and sent some photos. I love that I know the woman who delivered me. I love that I can share my life with her and tell her about the things that are going on with me, and that it's meaningful to her.
I know that Dr. Daphne is pretty good about returning letters so I am hopeful that this letter will result in a letter in my mailbox in a few weeks. We've had so much junk mail lately it would be really nice to get something personal :o)
Daphne is much closer friends with my parents, but when she found out I was engaged she wrote me a beautiful letter of congratulations, reflecting on some of her memories of me and my family. I decided to send her a note to just say hello and let her know she was on my mind. We share a love of cats, so I told her about our kitties and sent some photos. I love that I know the woman who delivered me. I love that I can share my life with her and tell her about the things that are going on with me, and that it's meaningful to her.
I know that Dr. Daphne is pretty good about returning letters so I am hopeful that this letter will result in a letter in my mailbox in a few weeks. We've had so much junk mail lately it would be really nice to get something personal :o)
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Letter #92 - Jim
I am a photographer. I haven't formally studied photography, but I have had the great privilege of having some fantastic mentors in my life who taught me a lot, and who encouraged me on my journey, and critiqued my work. About 5 years ago I decided to launch my own photography business, as a side job. The intent was always to make a little extra money doing something I love, but not committing to it full-time. Photography is a creative outlet for me, and if I'm relying on it solely for my income then it becomes more of a job, and I don't love it as much. I didn't want to force myself to fall out-of-love with my passion, so I've never pursued it full time. Even since I've been laid off I have amped up my efforts, but am still seeking full time employment that isn't photography.
Jim was one of my photo-mentors. I met Jim by accident, because he happened to have arrived early at a worship service, and I was standing at the podium with my father, hyperventilating and sobbing my heart out. I had agreed to say a prayer at the opening service of our church's world conference, and was the opening prayer before our President-Prophet preached. There were about 5000 people in attendance, plus it was being broadcasted on many of the local tv networks, and world wide on a live streaming webcast. The reality of what I had agreed to do had just sunk in, and my poor dad was trying to get me as settled as he could before the service began. I was freaking out. Jim witnessed all of this (unbeknownst to me). When the service began and I settled in my seat (alone on the rostrum with the top 3 leaders of our church at the time... no added pressure!) - I discovered that when they tell you the lights will be so bright you won't hardly see anyone, they're lying. I felt my heart catch in my throat again, and tried to look down without looking as though I was looking down. That's when I saw Jim. He gave me the biggest smile and just nodded at me. The rest of the service, I just focused on him, and his smile never broke. He got me through the entire thing and I had never even met him before.
That was the beginning of a beautiful friendship, and once he discovered that I had a budding interest in photography, he jumped on it and offered to critique some of my work. From then on, he would take me around church events as his assistant, until he eventually promoted me to staff photographer (a very exciting day!). He would invite me to come stay with him and his wife for a weekend to tour me around and take photos. He taught me how to use photoshop, and how to better frame a shot, and gave me tips on shooting portraits. He introduced me to his brother-in-law, another excellent photographer who also took me under his wing.
Whenever I hear from Jim I am always anxious to see what he has to say about my latest work, and eager to hear how life is treating him. He recently contacted me and asked if I would be willing to share a testimonial that he could put on his website, so I decided to send it to him long hand along with a letter.
I may not see Jim as much as I like, and I may not keep in touch as much as I used to, but he's with me every single time I pick up my camera, and I am forever grateful for that smile!
Jim was one of my photo-mentors. I met Jim by accident, because he happened to have arrived early at a worship service, and I was standing at the podium with my father, hyperventilating and sobbing my heart out. I had agreed to say a prayer at the opening service of our church's world conference, and was the opening prayer before our President-Prophet preached. There were about 5000 people in attendance, plus it was being broadcasted on many of the local tv networks, and world wide on a live streaming webcast. The reality of what I had agreed to do had just sunk in, and my poor dad was trying to get me as settled as he could before the service began. I was freaking out. Jim witnessed all of this (unbeknownst to me). When the service began and I settled in my seat (alone on the rostrum with the top 3 leaders of our church at the time... no added pressure!) - I discovered that when they tell you the lights will be so bright you won't hardly see anyone, they're lying. I felt my heart catch in my throat again, and tried to look down without looking as though I was looking down. That's when I saw Jim. He gave me the biggest smile and just nodded at me. The rest of the service, I just focused on him, and his smile never broke. He got me through the entire thing and I had never even met him before.
That was the beginning of a beautiful friendship, and once he discovered that I had a budding interest in photography, he jumped on it and offered to critique some of my work. From then on, he would take me around church events as his assistant, until he eventually promoted me to staff photographer (a very exciting day!). He would invite me to come stay with him and his wife for a weekend to tour me around and take photos. He taught me how to use photoshop, and how to better frame a shot, and gave me tips on shooting portraits. He introduced me to his brother-in-law, another excellent photographer who also took me under his wing.
Whenever I hear from Jim I am always anxious to see what he has to say about my latest work, and eager to hear how life is treating him. He recently contacted me and asked if I would be willing to share a testimonial that he could put on his website, so I decided to send it to him long hand along with a letter.
I may not see Jim as much as I like, and I may not keep in touch as much as I used to, but he's with me every single time I pick up my camera, and I am forever grateful for that smile!
Letter #91 - Amie
Everything in life is cyclical. We're born, we live, we die, and the circle continues. I have seen so many cycles in my life, not just the human life, but experiences, friendships, all kinds of cycles. Last fall, one cycle closed for my husband, but it opened a whole new series of cycles for both of us. He lost a friend of his to cancer, which was devastating to him, however as a result we were introduced to his friend's family and circle of friends, who folded us in with their love and support instantly. The result has been a whole new batch of friendships for both of us to foster and grow, and I have been so incredibly thankful for that legacy that Andy has left us.
Letter #91 is going in tomorrow's mail to Andy's daughter Amie. The first time I met Amie I saw exactly how I have always pictured myself when I will ultimately lose my dad. She was a mess. Still smiling and trying so hard to be strong and to pay tribute to his life, his wishes and all of the beautiful and wonderful things he stood for, but she was in so much pain that I just wanted to fold her into my arms and cry with her... and we had never met before. As time has passed I have seen her several other times, and while she has gotten stronger it is clear that the loss of her father has completely rocked her to her very core. Even the thought of losing my own dad puts me in touch with those emotions, and I can empathise very deeply. At the same time, she pushes to move on, to be a strong and wonderful wife and mother, and to be a friend to those who choose to be in her life... including me. While we don't spend a whole lot of time together one-on-one, I have felt a strong connection to her, and I very much hope that our friendship will continue to grow.
I decided to write Amie to send her some love and support, and to remind her that I was grateful she has entered my life, even if we aren't the closest of closest friends. She and I have tried a few times to get together and it's never quite worked out due to schedules, etc, so I reminded her of my desire to get that together sometime and for us to spend some time hanging out and just relaxing.
Letter #91 is going in tomorrow's mail to Andy's daughter Amie. The first time I met Amie I saw exactly how I have always pictured myself when I will ultimately lose my dad. She was a mess. Still smiling and trying so hard to be strong and to pay tribute to his life, his wishes and all of the beautiful and wonderful things he stood for, but she was in so much pain that I just wanted to fold her into my arms and cry with her... and we had never met before. As time has passed I have seen her several other times, and while she has gotten stronger it is clear that the loss of her father has completely rocked her to her very core. Even the thought of losing my own dad puts me in touch with those emotions, and I can empathise very deeply. At the same time, she pushes to move on, to be a strong and wonderful wife and mother, and to be a friend to those who choose to be in her life... including me. While we don't spend a whole lot of time together one-on-one, I have felt a strong connection to her, and I very much hope that our friendship will continue to grow.
I decided to write Amie to send her some love and support, and to remind her that I was grateful she has entered my life, even if we aren't the closest of closest friends. She and I have tried a few times to get together and it's never quite worked out due to schedules, etc, so I reminded her of my desire to get that together sometime and for us to spend some time hanging out and just relaxing.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Letter #90 - Rosa
This project always seems to run a little Tribe-heavy when I've had a school weekend. Rosa is another Tribe Member. (for those of you just joining us, my Masters' cohort refers to ourselves as a Tribe).
I haven't had too many opportunities to work with Rosa yet, and this weekend's class made me aware of that. She and I were assigned to a group project and I realised I don't think I've ever really worked one-on-one with her yet. I made a decision to fix that next class if I have the chance.
Rosa is another one our quiet ones (we have a few), but when she does speak up it is usually something quite profound and challenging, so I love it when I see her inch up to the edge of her seat getting ready to enter the discussion. I sent her a letter after class this past weekend to let her know how much I enjoyed the chance to work on our assignment with her, and to wish her luck on the 3 papers we have due between now and our next class.
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