Archive for Month: August, 2009
Meet Terra
Zoeyjane with Busy Dad and Miss Britt Reflecting in her Sun Glasses
“Forgive yourself. You’re the one who deserves it.”
That was the last sentence that Grace Davis spoke at her Keynote speech at BlogHer. With tears in my eyes I panned the full room, hearing sniffles and observing tear streaked cheeks, and they landed on Terra. She was up from her seat, in the arms of Angie, and I felt compelled to go to her.
I think I hugged her. I think I kissed her cheek. I think I asked her if she was ok. I don’t remember exactly, though, because all I can clearly remember is the look on her face. The face of a young woman wise beyond her years. The face of a young woman who has been to hell and back. The face of a young woman learning to forgive herself.
Terra and I worked on a project together. We had our individual work to be done, but we worked together. I would be up late, trying to finish, to make the deadline, and instead of working I would be chatting with Terra. We really got to know each other during that time and I looked forward to meeting her at BlogHer.
“Have you seen Terra yet?”
“Has Terra come in yet?”
“I hope I see Terra soon.”
When I did see her she was out, though. Literally out. I was taken aback and I didn’t know what to think. I saw pain in her eyes, however it wasn’t until I saw the look in her face at the Keynote Speech that I understood. Then bits and pieces of conversations flooded me. It wasn’t about me. Or [you.] Or [them.] It was about her. She was dealing with everything and nothing and then some.
Yesterday she posted her manifesto.
Terra has had so much heartache.
Terra has had so much hardship.
Terra has seen so much ugliness.
But…
Terra also has a strong soul.
Terra will always prevail.
Terra is beautiful.
Of all this I am certain…
Another thing I am certain of is that Terra—no matter what—will always have a friend in me.
Meet María
Chris Mann and *María outside of the Room 704 Party on Thursday night at BlogHer.
Back in June of 2008, I read a post that just made my jaw drop. I had just found the blogger that wrote it. You know, the way we all somehow find each other; I spotted her name in comments somewhere (probably on Mr. Lady’s blog) and I was intrigued. Immoral Matriarch? Really? Tell me more! Then I read Dance, Dance. I just had to know her.
I would comment a little bit here, and a little bit there. Mostly I read everything she wrote and became really fond of her. What I liked most was her honesty. And her dedication to being a mother, a strong one at that, to her daughters. She’s been faced with adversity and from what I’ve seen she prevails.
There’s been something change in María though. It totally has to do with a little four letter word. A little four letter word that is so powerful and poignant. L-O-V-E I love watching this love story unfold via her boyfriend, Joey’s Cardboard Love site. That little “interview” they did on there is totally awesome, by the way! Her laughter is infectious. My favorite thing about this whole thing, though, is that I heard the story of how they met and fell into the big, luscious vat of ooey-gooey love from María, herself.
(P.S. María and Joey, I love that you guys had cybersex on the “first date”!)
Here’s the thing: María and I may not have the same political beliefs. María and I may not have the same skin color. María and I may not feel the same way about Santa Claus. None of this matters to me because I love María’s heart. I love her sense of humor. I love her taste in music and men (have you seen Joey?) I love…
I love the way she loves her friends, differences and all.
*María: Say it with me class, “Mahhh-reeee-ahhhh”
Meet Jim
When I first found Jim’s Busy Dad Blog I was instantly drawn to him. He was full of humor, he wrote well, he showed off his mad dad skillz, and he wasn’t hard on the eyes at all. I had to be his friend and I’m fairly certain that I was just plain old blunt about it.
[The following is a re-enactment from back in the Cre8buzz days.]
Me: Hi.
Jim: Uhhh, hi.
Me: We are going to be friends, ok?
Jim: O.K.
Me: Cuz I, like, love you and stuff. You’re cool. I’m cool. We’re cool.
Jim: Cool!
Me: No, seriously; we are so totally BFFs now.
Jim: I believe you.
It probably didn’t happen like that. Or it totally happened like that. Either way, I am happy to say that Jim is cool with being my friend. Thank You, God!
One time he did this Iron Chef post with his son, Fury. From that we did a challenge between our blogs/kids. It stands as one of my all-time favorite posts involving my kids. [ Iron Chef Challenge on here and The Return of Iron Chef Fury: Kitchen Stadium Showdown on The Busy Dad Blog. ] We’ve been wanting to do another one, but I can’t seem to get on the ball. Hopefully soon, though, we will have another one!
Meeting Jim at BlogHer was a big highlight for me. I totally think of Jim as a brother. He’s the kind of guy that you can turn to for advice. He’s the kind of guy that would hold your hair back, while you puke, if you [blog]hopped with him too much. He’s the kind of guy that would close down the karaoke bar with you. He’s the kind of pseudo-bro that your girlfriends will drool over because he’s just that hot. He’s even the kind of guy that your husband likes and jokes with (scroll down to the last comments for that one.)
He’s just a really good guy, and that’s why I will always be proud to call him my friend.
Accidental Photography
I pride myself on knowing my stuff, but I’m only human and sometimes I simply forget to check my camera before I flip it on and start clicking. Most of the time I lose a shot but there are other times when something magical happens.
Happy accidents, if you will, like this:
Backpacking Dad and Busy Dad meet at BlogHer 2009
In this picture there was not enough light for the setting. I had my Speedlite 580EX mounted on my camera, but didn’t flip it on as I saw this moment approaching. There was only time enough to flip on the camera. In snapping without the flash the shutter stayed open longer, to grab light, to process the image. The effect is motion. One that I am often happy with. Hence calling them “happy accidents”.
I totally intended for this picture to be captured in focus, but instead I caught a moment of movement. A moment where two friends meet. A moment that is, through an image, stretched out and enjoyed.
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