Meet my Dodger!

Well, I have promised this post for quite sometime and today I finally sat down and made the commitment. I really have been busy. On July 10th I did a photo shoot with a petite Ya-Ya (expectant daughter of Ya-Ya SQ)and her husband. My very first indoor maternity shoot! I took to the bed for a couple of days afterwards with the vapors. It was so stressful for me (most of it self inflicted), as it is one of life's little moments you do not have a chance to capture again if missed on the first try. But, it was such an honor for her to even ask me, knowing that I am NOT a professional. She trusted me, ME, with the chance to capture her moment in history and I was very touched by that. I thank them for giving me the chance to share in such an intimate and special time in their lives. It is my hope that they will allow me a future post with a couple of photos so you can see how I spent my day sweating profusely and praying that I was not over my head with a camera I call affectionately call "The Beast". Anyway, meshed along with the shoot, there has been a visit from my brother and his daughter, a baby shower, a quilt project, my middle daughter and her husband moved to a new home, and the delivery of a new fridge and dishwasher. So, there. I have been busy, not to mention the hours of editing photos. I now feel purged and confident you will accept my apologies for taking so long to introduce to you my soul mate in this life...my Dodger.



Twenty seven years I embarked on a journey with the above young man. This photo was taken on our honeymoon with my Minolta 35mm (still have it, still works)on November 16, 1981. We were married on the 14th. We were about to take a little ride on the observation lift that would take us high above Gatlinburg, TN when I captured this moment. I love this picture. So do all of our daughters. Other than the fact that he is 27 years younger, he looks pretty much the same. Personally, I think he has aged much better than myself considering the work he does. Very physical work. Long days exposed to the elements outside, on his knees, often behind a shovel or machine, or holding a pump, walking back & forth through mud or dusty Georgia red dirt, enduring long periods of blistering sun or bone chilling nights in freezing temperatures. What might you guess he does? Dodger is a concrete finisher. Yep, concrete is his life. Has been for most of it too. His Dad, Brothers, Uncles and numerous Cousins were and are finishers too. It runs through his blood as much as it runs through my washer and dryer (that is another story for another day)! It is a tough job, his endurance is phenomenal, his patience and strength are staggering. I think he works too hard. There was a day he would argue that statement, today, he may be more inclined to agree. Concrete works takes its toll on your knees, your back, shoulders, and skin. He loves it though and for the last 20 years it has put food on our table, clothed our daughters, built a home, paid for braces, put 3 children through college and paid for 2 weddings. 27 years ago, I could have never imagined what was ahead of us. Never imagined that he would work as hard as he does for me or our kids. Dedication has made him a successful businessman and provider. Patience has made him a husband you could only dream about. His loving heart has made him a Dad that is truly a blessing from above.

I don't really have all the words to tell you about him. Nor, do I have the space in this blog to tell you all of the good things about him. If you have had the opportunity in your life to know him, I know for a fact, you will never forget him. He is just that great. Plain and simple a good hardworking man with two of the roughest hands you'll ever see. Cut, bruised, and callused, but always gentle enough to hold three daughters, wipe a tear, touch a face, comfort a shoulder, grip a tiny hand, or guide an arm for a walk down the aisle. Those hands have held me in moments of sadness, uncertainty, despair, happiness, love, excitement and joy. How lucky I have been for the last 27 years to "have and to hold" them on this journey we have embarked on together. By some accounts we may be half way through it already. But I know our journey will last as long as he can hold my heart in his hand and personally, I don't think he will ever let it go. Always and Forever, Dodger, always.

This is my Dodger now (or 2 years ago at our oldest daughters wedding). I think he looks GREAT for all we girls have put him through!



I wish each of you a blessed day!