Everyone Needs a Wartime Experience

29.07.11 personal

Jesie and I walked swiftly through the Pheonix airport to our gate.  Each pulling behind us our matching LowePro camera bag.  Weaving in and out of people, huffing and puffing we arrived at our gate just as our group, A48, was boarding.  Perfect timing.  We were flying Southwest and stepped onto the aircraft with one mission: to find two seats together.  We greeted the friendly flight attendant and rounded the corner to look down the cabin of the plane.  My eyes lay on the first pair of open seats.  Row 2.  A window and a middle seat.  Overhead bin space?  Plenty.  Score.  I may or may have not done a fist pump.

Then I noticed who was in the aisle seat of our row.

She wore white slacks, a red sequined top, and a blue blazer.  Her large cross necklace caught my eye; it was red and perfectly matched her red top, red nails, red earrings, and of course, her red lips.  Around her neck she wore a thin white scarf.  And she was about 80-years-old.  Or so I thought.

Clearly seeing how fragile and frail she was, I hated to ask her to move.  But let’s be honest, it was a full flight.  Somebody had to do it, and it might as well be me.

“Ma’am, I think we’d like to sit by you.”

She smiled softly and slowly raised herself up out of her seat.  Ugh, with all these open seats in the back, I hated to ask her, but I just KNEW it’d be worth it… and that’s because I had another motive.

Other than being at the front of the plane and overhead bin space, I wanted to sit by this lady specifically.  You see, I have a very special place in my heart for the elderly.  If you can’t find me at your wedding reception, chances are I’m seated with your grandparents learning “the secret” to marriage.

As Jesie and I got settled, my curious mind couldn’t help but wonder what this little old lady was doing alone and where she was going. “So are you traveling home to Seattle?”

She glanced over at me seated by the window.  Through her bifocal lenses I could see her eyes light up. “Oh no,” she proudly exclaimed, “I’m from Dallas.  I’m going to meet my best, good girlfriend.  She’s my oldest friend.  We met when we were just girls at camp.”

Jesie and I exchanged a glance, smiling at each other with our eyes.

“This is going to be good,” I thought.  “You know, she’s my very best girlfriend,” I quipped nodding towards Jesie.

“Oh well, everyone needs a good girlfriend,” the elderly woman said. “It’s my friend’s 75th wedding anniversary.  I’m traveling on planes, trains, and busses to see her.”

“Busses?!” I exclaimed, rather surprised.  I can hardly figure out the Light Rail in Denver.

“Oh yes, a Greyhound bus.  I’ve taken them before.  It’s easy.  Everyone is so nice to you when you’re on a walker.”

Insert chuckles here.

“I am 94-years-old,” she said.  My jaw hit my tray table.  “84 or 94?” I asked shocked.

“Niiiinty-four” she said with a giggle and learned towards us with a whisper:  “And my boyfriend’s 95!”

94-years-old and she’s traveling across the country, alone, to celebrate the wedding of her best friend that she witnessed 75 years ago.

“Yup, this is why I sat here,” I whispered to Jes knowing that this woman had some good stories to share.

We exchanged names.  Pat was hers.  When we told her our names she said, in exactly the way 94-year-old women do:  “Oh well those are both real pretty names.”

I commented that she was quite the independent and adventurous woman.  She strongly concurred, nodding her head, and went on to tell us some of her life stories.

Like how she was married at 23, but divorced him after 4 years after but remained best friends…  How she couldn’t have children but almost adopted on several accounts…  How laughter really is the best medicine…

She talked a lot about how she met her late husband of 62 years.  “This year would’ve been our 65th anniversary.”  George was his name.  “He was a fighter pilot in the Air Force.”

Hey, I know a thing or two about the Air Force.

“I’ve moved 27 times,” she reminisced.  “The Air Force is a good life.  And, boy, did he look good in his uniform.”

All three of us ladies, ranging from 24 to 94, giggled.  I couldn’t help but think of my Airman in his uniform.  As she told us the story of how she and George met, I pulled out my iPhone from my blue Vera Bradley bag under the seat in front of me.  “We met in a bar,” she continued.  “I remember asking him if he was a good pilot.  ’Well I’m alive, aren’t I?’ he said.”  She chuckled as she told the story, remembering how funny her husband was.

When the opportunity was right, I extended my iPhone towards her — on the screen was a big photo of me and John, taken just after his captain promotion.  “Doesn’t he look good in his uniform?” I chimed.

“Oh boy! He does.” And without missing a beat she playfully nudged us, “I bet he looks good out of his uniform too!”

We all laughed and she said, “Here I’ll show you my husband.”  And out of her purse, she pulled an old photograph of an Airman with a smile as big as Dallas itself.  I held the wallet-sized photo in the palm of my hand and took in every detail.

And that’s when she said it.

“You know, everyone needs a wartime experience — without the war.”

Instantly my mind flashed to images of John and our war-time experience. But with the war.

John and I have been through a lot.  We’ve both experienced the highs and lows that only love and war can bring: fear, doubt, patience, hope, R&Rs, care packages, prayers, tears, restless nights, faith…  But as a result, we’ve experienced growth, intimacy, war victories, bliss, and hope.  We’ve been together almost three years and nearly half of that time we’ve been in separate states or countries.

I couldn’t help but notice that Pat was wearing red, white, and blue.  “Must be a sign,” I thought.

And in that moment, after hearing only a sliver of this woman’s full life, I realized that maybe, just maybe, 65 years from now, wearing my red, white, and blue, how grateful I’ll be for all the blessings, both in disguise and obvious, that stem from my war-time experience.

Here’s to us, babe, and the start of a brand new semester and many more to come…

Kiowa, CO: Amanda & Nick

28.07.11 engagements

 

When Jesie’s little sister got engaged all I could think about was photographing her.  Of course, I was excited, but I also worried that she maybe met another photographer that she loved more.  You see, Jesie’s little sister, Amanda, has a very special place in my heart.  AJ, as we affectionately call her, was pretty much my first portrait session ever on a DSLR camera.  When I started to get serious about photography, I bought a Nikon D50 and around that time AJ was graduating from high school.  This was back when Jesie and I weren’t even really friends, just acquaintances.  Not having a clue what I was doing, I shot her senior portraits.  Years later they still hang in my house today with my other “what started it all” work.

You can imagine how thrilled I was to get the call about shooting her wedding.  I’ve had the privilege of getting to know AJ and her wonderful fiancé, Nick, over the last couple of years.  What I’ve learned is Nick is a pretty quiet farm boy.  But he absolutely lights up around AJ.  And he’s got this laugh… I don’t know where it comes from.  But every muscle in his face wrinkles up and he gets the biggest, boyish grin on his face and just chuckles to no end.

AJ and Nick, I know how the Jerrolds do weddings.  This one’s sure to be epic.  I cannot wait.  AJ, I think of you as my little sister too.  I love you, I love you, I love you.

R

Amanda, you are absolutely stunning!  I love these next two shots of you.

Maui, HI – Lauren & Justin – Part II

21.07.11 destination weddings

We pick up today with Part II of Justin and Lauren’s Maui wedding!

Favorite!!

I adore this shot!

Jesie at her finest in the next two shots:

The sunset was rockin’ during the reception.

Lauren’s dad sent us all to tears with probably the most meaningful and touching toast from a father I’ve ever heard.

Laruen’s mom wasn’t the only one in tears when Lauren danced with her father.

The night was just right: the perfect amount of dancing, toasting, laughing, crying, and conversation.  This next shot is THREE RTP couples in one room.  Kristi and Scott are on the left and you’ll see more of them after their August wedding. :-)  Matt and Aubrey are on the right; you may remember them from last May.

Maui, HI: Lauren & Justin – Part I

18.07.11 destination weddings

Aloha!  And happy Monday evening!  I have a special treat for the evening crew… You’ve heard us brag about it, you’ve seen my profile picture, you’ve read the Twitter updates, now see the real deal that brought us to Maui, Hawaii last month.

Lauren and Justin are one of those couples who are….well, for lack of a better word: perfect.   Sometimes words can’t really express what I think.  And especially not today.  Just know, they’re more beautiful on the inside than these images of Hawaii. They welcomed me and Jesie with open arms.  We both definitely feel like family – especially after photographing Lauren’s brother’s wedding last May. And not just with Lauren and Justin, we feel like family with everyone on that guest list.  Destination weddings have a way of doing that to a photographer.

It was the most perfect day.  Lauren looked simply angelic and Justin, well, his expression says it all.  Wait till you see his reaction to his beautiful bride walking down the isle.

L&J, words just can’t express how much you two mean to me.  I think you know it, though.

So much love to you,
René + Jesie

Jesie was pretty much rocking it all day with these shots of the area:

Love this shot that Jes grabbed of Lauren.  The colors, the composition… perfecto!

 Now just you get ready for some of the most gorgeous getting ready shots you’ll ever see in your life time.  Are you ready?  Sure?

Lauren, you’re an angel.

 Meanwhile, Jes was with the guys.  And the guys were with baseball….

I love a big finish!

Times two!

As always, don’t miss part II! And leave these two some love below. :-)