Great Words by Max Erhmann -

Go placidly amidst the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labours and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful.

Strive to be happy.....

::Desiderata By: Max Ehrmann::

Nick and Melissa - Engagement Session At Harkness Memorial Park Wedding Day Coming Soon! by TAB Photographic

So in 2010, May 5th or possibly June 4th (depending on who you ask) there were these two kids... Melissa (the girl) and Nick (the boy)... In case you couldn't tell the difference. 

From what Melissa says, they met in her dreams. That's an unfortunate part of their story since the reality of that dream was Bleachers in Bristol. I wish I could say it was a fabulous place, this Bleachers. However, for any of you that know the area, it's sort of anything but. I mean, it's not all that bad. (is any dive bar really "all that bad") But it's surely not all that great. However, on this night, this dive was the place dreams are made of. Or at least made in. 

Thanks to a friend and a band, Hearts and Thieves - these two young hip kids found each other. I'm sure Nick broke into some stellar dance moves and Melissa stepped further away, unsure of what he would do next. (or just making sure she wasn't seen with him???) But really, after this awesome night, it was time to make a move. Nick stepped up, called Melissa and asked her about shoes. Shoes??? Really Nick? haha 

I'm sure Nick was on cloud 9 from that day on. What he doesn't know is that Melissa's just keeping him around for kicks... Dragging him by his coat tails, or at times his tie......  Though at times, Nick makes sure he has the upper hand. Trying to control her at every chance and in any way.... She plays along and obviously holds the upper hand at all times.  

So while Nick attempts to turn this life of theirs into song and dance, Melissa will cringe with happiness and love. (Nick believes that these songs are made up together, obvious denial haha) Since they both enjoy music and live entertainment, she accepts his singing. Understanding that boredom is obviously something these two will never have to worry about. 

And now that they have both agreed that they love each other... Or in their own words "I think...." with the reply of "I know, me too"........ No one will ever tear them apart.  

They will grow old, very very very old together, counting their wrinkles long into their warm afternoons on the porch. Their silliness will conquer all and the 7 children and 4 dogs which Melissa says she wants will surely take care of them in their old age. 

If one thing is clear, it's that they are surely...... Better together.

Some (or most) of this story may not be an exact description of their lives together. There may, quite possibly be fictitious pieces thrown into the mix... but it's all good. After all, they love each other.... 

Because we can all be in like but...

Because this is pretty awesome. Here's the thing though, you have to watch it all. You have to take it in. Smile, wonder and maybe even have a thought of "this is sort of lame" or "boring"... But you won't be disappointed. And if you're reading this and going to watch this. I Like You.....

Yup... It's that time again!

It's that time of year... The time of fav's......

So to start things off... Some of the favorite details from the year....

Who Do You Believe Should Receive The Family Portrait

So here's the deal. In my most recent newsletter release I offered a family portrait session to one deserving family. Only thing is that I'm stuck between two. So below are the two cases which were told to me. One by a friend of a family, and the other by a family itself. Ready both, then to the right, there's a poll. You get to make your choice of who you believe should receive it. Family 1 (the first story) or Family 2 (the second story)... Or then there's the 3rd option of choosing I do it for both... Read the post below and then go over to the poll on the right and make your choice!




FAMILY 1: (submitted by a friend)

The _________ Family

because they are eager to help with smile or hand
because they glow in the dark
and skip to giggled rhythms
and longboard through forbidden paths
they know the value of garlic
and a warm fire on a crisp night
they will pick up your daughter and feed her the last of the pie
and have a can of oil for what squeaks

they enjoy a simple pleasure as if it took a lifetime to find it
and they smile like they haven't seen you in a year

some wield bows with hairs from horses
others know how to measure twice
they are fierce in pursuit
and soft upon landing
they can caramelize or ooze

crisp or puree

they ripen a town
and seed time for tomorrow’s fruit
they groove like sonny sitt
and oil rawling mitts
they reheat
and recycle
and shower beneath the moon

they are a fastball and a changeup
a clan and individual
they can break it down and build a house
upon any space before them

they can certainly fill a frame....

FAMILY 2: (submitted by the family itself)

I'd like to nominate my family for your deserving family photo session.  On Nov 13th Of this year (yes, just over a month ago) I brought my Mom to the hospital because I suspected she was having a mild stroke.  At exactly 4pm that day, they told us she had a massive brain tumor...and our lives changed forever.  My Mom, just 63, has always been vibrant, active, independent, and the life of the party.  Since her diagnosis and subsequent craniotomy two days later, she has become flat, dependant and Someone so unlike the Mom I know. She has been living in my home since being released from the hospital.  We go to Hartford everyday for radiation treatments and she takes chemo pills every night.  But the tumor progresses and her memory and abilities have become limited -- even in such a very short time.  After being told she had a prognosis of 12 months when she was first diagnosed, the oncologists now tell me she is more likely to pass within 3 to 6 months.  This all happened so suddenly.  
Mom is living with us and getting to spend lots of time with her granddaughters, but I would like the opportunity to capture our family as we are now, before she is gone.  My brother, Mom and I haven't had a real family portrait together since I was in high school and we have never done an entire family group shot since I had the girls (so done important is always taking the picture).  So I humbly nominate my family for a photo session...it would be an important and touching keepsake.  
Here tumor is called a glioblastoma and while they don't typically classify brain cancers in stages...it would be stage IV if they did.

Talk about two completely different nominations right? I'm torn between the two. So go over and make your choice to the right. 

Family Session Fun

There's some great family sessions that have been coming around lately and between wrapping up the wedding season and rockin' out portraits, the blog has been a little behind. But be ready, there's going to be a landslide of photography coming your way!!!

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