{A Rose by any other name} December Gratitude Challenge

“We have to recognise that there cannot be relationships unless there is commitment, unless there is loyalty, unless there is love, patience, persistence.”
― Cornel West, Breaking Bread: Insurgent Black Intellectual Life

Thankful today for the beautiful friends like my dear friends Rose, Brandy, Nadina,Kathy, Alan, Emily,Michael, Earl, The Finley Fam, Kolby, Lisa, Sarah, Owen Fam, Joshua ,My parents, Jessica, Barb, Vicki and others who thick and thin and messy and tears stuck by me during this messy and nasty divorce. Not many have the virtue of loyalty, myself included, at times. But hold the ones that do have close to your heart. Tightly. And I know I left out many including the fine people I met on the road...

Tomorrow, I have the privilege of photography my lovely friends wedding. I could not be more blessed.

Happy New Year and blessings!

{Dog. Meets. World} December Gratitude Challenge

“I hate to hear you talk about all women as if they were fine ladies instead of rational creatures. None of us want to be in calm waters all our lives.”
― Jane Austen, Persuasio

Thankful today for rough waters, the strong women in my life and in the world, for my strong daughter and for my son who loves strong women.

{Seaside} December Gratitude Challenge

“Te amo como se aman ciertas cosa oscuras,
secretamente, entre la sombra y el alma.
(I love you as certain dark things are to be loved,
in secret, between the shadow and the soul.)”
― Pablo Neruda

Thankful today for the sea. For self discovery. For poetry and movement. For the low and high tides. For grace.

{Ir. Vine} December Gratitude Challenge

“Expose yourself to your deepest fear; after that, fear has no power, and the fear of freedom shrinks and vanishes. You are free.”
― Jim Morrison

Thankful for the Fineley's in Southern California
Thankful for safe travels and laughs
Thanful for Bop it
Thankful for Father Frank Finley

Most of all thankful for new starts....

{Coaster} December Gratitude Challenge

“Life is truly a ride. We're all strapped in and no one can stop it. When the doctor slaps your behind, he's ripping your ticket and away you go. As you make each passage from youth to adulthood to maturity, sometimes you put your arms up and scream, sometimes you just hang on to that bar in front of you. But the ride is the thing. I think the most you can hope for at the end of life is that your hair's messed, you're out of breath, and you didn't throw up.”
― Jerry Seinfeld

Today thankful for the ride called life and all the amazing people in my life from my roommate to my neighbor to friends far and wide. Happy holidays and hold onto that handle bar. Life is a crazy wonderful ride!

{Checkers} December Gratitude Challenge

“Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make man a more clever devil.”
― C.S. Lewis

Merely thankful today for the beauty of the day

{Tests} December Gratitude Challenge

“Sometimes I lie awake at night and I ask, "Is life a multiple choice test or is it a true or false test?" ...Then a voice comes to me out of the dark and says, "We hate to tell you this but life is a thousand word essay.”
― Charles M. Schulz

Thankful today for warm sun, a talk with my children, an invitation to photograph a dear friends wedding. Happy Holidays!