There's a million things to say!

Another summer has come and gone and another 3 1/2 months of blog silence. What could the reason possibly be? That I have been rendered totally speechless? Unlikely. That I've been sitting around doing next to nothing? Impossible. That I've been busier than snot on a two year old and time has whizzed by so fast because just when one incredible moment happened it was piggybacked on by another and then some other dramatic turn of events happened taking me from here to there and back again, from exhilaration to a complete sense of loss and then luckily bouyed back up by other random events, people and situations with my underlying feeling being one of constantly be amazed about how beautiful life is and that getting older and older is completely worth it and regardless of gray hairs is still high on my list of priorities?

Bingo.

So in the interest of letting you - whoever you might me :) - know that I'm still out here doing my thing and loving every minute of it that on this blustering day today I was inspired to post some photographs from a blustery day on the first full day of summer this year. I had the honor of capturing Mario and Jenn's incredibly unique wedding on the schooner Zodiac while cruising through the San Juan Islands. It was a day filled with laughter, joy, animated lip syncing of a familiar song called "I'm on a boat!", and meatballs flying through the air randomly as some guests didn't head the warning to eat dinner below decks because of the wind topside. What a waste of food! At least the Zodiac's stowaway kitty didn't go hungry that day.

Hope you enjoy the photos and more summer stories coming soon.

Proud father!

Poulsbo's Viking Fest Parade 2011 was a blast. It's so cool to live in a small community where such a tradition as Viking Fest is nurtured and celebrated. My daughter Alex is a part of group at her school known as the B.R.A.T.S (Breidablik's Rising Athletically Talented Students). They do such an interesting array of activities that include ball walking, juggling, jump roping, unicycling and in Alex's case riding the dreaded 6 foot tall "Triple Stack". Watching her do this through the Viking Fest parade with thousands of onlookers was awesome. I was very proud. Mostly, I was amazed at her ability to ride the darn thing, especially amidst such a distracting atmosphere (and a bumpy road!).

Hours earlier I decided to buy a little GoPro Hero, which is an HD video camera that can be mounted almost anywhere. I mounted it to the top of Alex's helmet and her video from the parade is pretty spectacular. I edited it down to a 5 minute clip here. The local paper, The North Kitsap Herald, also did a story on Alex that you can check out here. We've had a lot of fun with that little video camera already including taking it along on multiple barf-inducing rides at the Viking Fest Carnival.

Time goes by so quickly. Seems like yesterday that Alex was 'graduating' from Kindergarten and singing a song about Panda Bears with her classmates that made every single one of the parents burst into tears. Meanwhile, Miles was finishing 5th grade. Now Miles is heading off to college to take high school AND college classes over the next few years. These milestones seem to get closer and closer together.  Next is Alex's 5th grade graduation in a few weeks.

Heading to Costco for the Kleenex.

There's just something classic about Black & White

I just felt inspired today to share some thoroughly random photographs. A black & white image has a depth and texture to it that encourages a closer look and a longer pause. Since life is in color, black & white makes me reflect just a little bit longer on a moment and notice things a bit differently. In any photograph of course time stands still, but in black & white, that stillness echos in a way that can be so beautiful.

Anna, 1992

Ashley with dad, last summer

Party bus, August 2010

Christa & Michael

The Avila's

Peter & Julia in 2009, expecting their first child any day now.

Jordan

Jordan & Lisa

Kelsie & Lauren waiting out a wind gust

Nate in studio

Keslie in the garden

Keslie and Lauren on my roof!

The Tobey siblings, I've known them all for over 25 years

Caity continues to amaze!!

Caity a few weeks ago...

Caity last night...

Caity raised well over $3,000 to benefit pediatric cancer research last night by shaving her head! The St. Baldrick's fundraiser was held at Fado's Pub in downtown Seattle. Not only did she raised money but she also donated her hair to "Locks of Love".

I really am having a hard time grasping how incredible Caity's journey has been. To consider all that she's gone through, the uncertain road ahead, AND the fact that she just turned 14 which of course ushers in all sorts chaos into a kid's life, her decision to help others in this way is remarkable. Cancer dealt her such a tough hand in life but she has elected to fight back in every way that she possible can.

What occupied your thought process when you were 14? Probably the typical drama that has been going on ever since that incredibly awkward vehicle called "junior high" was invented. Caity is going through all of the same things but in addition, as her mom Misti refers to it, she is still dealing with "The Monster". Her monster is not a make believe one that hides under the bed either. Her monster is one that the best minds in the world are joining together to try to eliminate. In the meantime, Caity and her doctors are doing their best to keep it at bay and under control and for now, it's working.

What's also so touching to witness is how kids who are struggling with cancer connect with each other. Last night Caity bumped into a few other kids that are on the same wacky roller coaster that she is. They connected instantly like magnets that belonged together. Their bond is like something that only those who have walked the walk can really understand. The comfort they give each other is absolutely beautiful. Earlier in the day I visited one of Caity's good friends at Children's. When I told Caity that her friend wanted me to congratulate her on her accomplishment Caity just beamed.

Amidst the turmoil of Caity's day to day life, she still manages to generate that great smile which proves that she first and foremost wants to enjoy life to the fullest. I told her once last night that I wanted to take just one shot of her not smiling from ear to ear. She said enthusiastically, "I can't NOT smile!" (wouldn't that be a great bumper sticker for everyone's life?!) I did manage to capture just a fleeting reflective moment though in which I felt like she was looking to the future, with hope.

Karen speaks

My wife and I just spent a wonderful couple of days with our dear friend Karen Gerstenberger. We're working together on a video project focusing on family-centered care based on Karen's family's cancer journey, which began in the fall of 2006 with their daughter Katie's diagnosis. Karen's ability to revisit such difficult times and still be able to pick the perfect words to express her feelings is an absolute gift. Having a couple of video cameras pointed at her had to make it more difficult but that didn't even seem to phase her one bit.

Heidi and I witnessed something incredible these past two days; a mother's undying love for her daughter. It's been almost four years since Katie's life was cut short by cancer but she is remembered and honored every day and in every step that Karen takes. Through sharing her family's most difficult and most emotional moments and chronically the tragic loss of dear Katie, Karen hopes to help improve the way hospitals treat the critically ill as well as to help families that might unexpectedly find themselves in a similar life and death struggle. There is a fellowship amongst those whose lives have been turned upside down and changed forever by cancer or other life threatening illness. Those looking in from the outside can never know what it really is like unless they join the club at some point in their lives. The by product of listening however, is a truly wonderful thing...compassion. And compassion is something that can affect positive change anywhere it is directed. That is the goal of the project that Karen and I are working on.

I am truly blessed and honored that Karen is willing to share her story with me in hopes of helping others.

March 4, 2011 at Karen's home

Karen & Katie, just two weeks before Katie passed away in August, 2007

XENA GOT MARRIED!

It's been a while since I last shared an update on my cousin-in-law Xena, formerly known as Megan. Well, I guess officially known as Megan, but ever since she miraculously survived a shipyard accident in which she lost her right leg below the knee she quickly morphed into "Xena". She's not really a "Warrior Princess"...I would definitely say "warrior" but "princess" isn't a fitting description for a woman who can cuss like a longshoreman and probably drink that same fellow under the table...on a weekday. OK, I'm exaggerating (but not by much). When they airlifted Megan to Harborview in November 2009 and because she wasn't able to speak they automatically gave her the identifier of "Doe, Xena". When I found that out, I could not have imagined a more perfect nickname for her.

Ever since the accident, Xena has put herself on the fast track to recovery, pushing herself probably way harder than she should. A workout fanatic, as soon as she could get back into a routine she did, and she paid the consequences too. She would go on 3 mile hikes with her crutches only to come home in excruciating pain. There have been lingering side effects to her severe injury but still she remains upbeat, positive, and LOUD. When Megan is in a room, you knew it before she got there, that is for certain. She is one of the most real and genuine people that I have ever met and her zest for life is unmatched. Her laugh starts as a smirk and then just explodes, enveloping anyone nearby in its blast zone.

As the emergency personnel were on scene trying to stabilize her and save her life, nearby sat one man who had more to lose than anyone, Selves, Megan's boyfriend. He was a crane operator at the shipyard that day and when it came time, he was the one who had to lift the crushing concrete pilings off of Megan. I can not even imagine the emotion that must have been rushing through him. He literally picked Megan up and rescued her. He continued to be by her side every day at Harborview and that never changed. Their love grew deeper and deeper and they decided last summer that they wanted to marry. But what kind of wedding for a woman like Xena and guy like Selves?? I doubt it took them too long to come up with an answer.

Vegas. Or as Megan would say, "Vegas baby, yeah!"

Plans were made and before I knew it my wife Heidi and I were bound for Las Vegas. Megan asked me to pull a trifecta, to be her wedding photographer, her videographer, AND she wanted me to perform the ceremony (and throw a little "Mooselips rap" in there too). I was honored to be asked and that's exactly what happened. We had an absolutely wonderful extended weekend in Vegas. We took photographs out on the Vegas strip on their wedding day then had a nice intimate gathering of close family for the wedding ceremony (only interrupted about 4 times by low flying aircraft!), then enjoyed a delightful reception at Selves' parents house. Selves' mom fed us like it was going to be our last meal for a month...yum. The celebration was truly fitting for two individuals that had already been through so much together but who now are starting a new life together as husband and wife. Their journey will be amazing, it will be real, it will be genuine, and it will definitely be LOUD!



Congratulations!

Megan showing off "Shorty" as she calls her right leg these days and one of her new tattoos.

The entire wedding party with downtown "Manhattan" in the background

Supergirl continues to amaze!

Caitlyn Bell (aka: Supergirl) continues to re-write the definition of the word "awesome". I recently visited her and her parents at Ronald McDonald House in Seattle. At that time she had about a week left of daily radiation treatments that she was receiving as a follow up to the major surgery that she had last November. During that epic 10 hour surgery the doctors went in to remove two known cancerous tumors from her abdomen. They instead found and removed 17. Her recovery from that surgery was superhuman (hence her new nickname).

Caitlyn at Ronald McDonald House

Caitlyn with her mom Misti

Caity with a random troubadour

When Caity was just 2 days away from finishing her last radiation treatment, after which she would be able to go home, she developed some complications and wound up spending 3 or 4 more days in the hospital at Seattle Children's. This has been the pattern for her for years, making a few steps forward then having to take a few steps back. Still, she keeps marching on and is making progress. It was during this latest set-back that she decided to fight cancer in another way-- by raising money to help fund cancer research. Instead of looking inward to her own fight, which would be totally understandable, she is looking outward to see how she can help others.

Her plan? She's going to shave her head on March 10th for St. Baldricks fund raising drive! This is a 14 year old girl. Hair is about the #1 accessory for most 14 year old girls and Caity is willing to get rid of it all as long as it can make a difference in the fight against cancer. Her goal was $1,000 and she's just a little short of that at the moment. I'm hoping she can reach her goal and then surpass it.

To find out more about this incredible young lady, please check out this link and perhaps you'll be inspired to sponsor her.

http://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/mypage/participantid/423780