You're Never Too Old...

Happy New Year everyone! This is Rhonda, hijacking Cindy's blog again. Have you made your New Year's resolutions? I know I have. I am a sucker for making a good list of resolutions, no matter what. I truly believe in the hope of a new year, a clean slate, and a new attitude. There's a quote I read recently by George Eliot that says, "You're never too old to be the person you always wanted to become." That's right folks, you are never too old for a do-over. For starters, my "do-over" this year is to change my eating habits by chowing down on more fruits and veggies. I knew my diet was getting pretty bad when the drive thru lady at McDonalds and I were on a first name basis. Did you know that the average person includes only about 8% of produce in his/her daily diet? I've always been so busy trying to keep a "balanced" diet that I think I ended up skimping on fruits and veggies. I think I will try eating an unbalanced diet for a while that is overloaded with produce. I was particularly motivated to do this when I learned that former president Bill Clinton has become a vegan. A vegan! This is Bill Clinton, folks. The same Bill Clinton who was parodied on Saturday Night Live stuffing McDonald's fries in his face after his daily jog. Once a self-affirmed junk food addict, Bill Clinton, now in his mid sixties, is embracing a plant based diet, shunning meat and all dairy products. After he conducted his own, personal research into veganism, he discovered that you can naturally unclog your arteries with a plant based diet. I have to figure that if Bill Clinton can eat better in his sixties, then I can too on the eve of my fortieth year.

And as for Cindy, her resolutions are to work out one additional day at the gym. She is already hitting it hard, 3 days a week, so she wants to add a fourth. And this is the one, that I am particularly excited about...she is planning to walk/run a 5K. As a runner, this makes me very happy! We are always trying to recruit new folks :) Cindy is one of the most positive, pro-active people I know. Her enthusiasm is contagious. I know she will meet her goal!

Heather, Cindy's assistant, also has her own New Year's resolutions. She is going to train for a 5K as well. They are going to use the Runner's World Couch to 5K program at www.runnersworld.com. Check it out! Heather's other project is to participate in Project365.com, which is to take a photograph of her life every single day. I'll bet she grows fitter and fitter in each progressive picture.

What are your resolutions? Tell us! We'd love to hear from you. And, incidentally, when you succeed in your resolutions, be it weight loss, a new exercise program, quitting smoking, or spending more time with your kids, Cindy would love to photograph that smile on your face.

But I Don't have Time for a Portrait!

This is Rhonda on Cindy's blogspot today. Today is Thursday, and I can say without reservation, that I am so glad tomorrow is Friday! It's been a long week for me on the homefront, driving carpools in my car with one hand on the wheel, while the other hand clutches a Diet Coke, washing mounds of laundry but never finding socks that match, fighting battles over clothes, dinner, and this week, specifically, duking it out over hairstyles! I plopped into a chair at the studio yesterday and looked at Cindy and said, "No offense, but what family has time to get their pictures made?" Who were those organized moms in Tory Burch shoes that were able to waltz into Cindy's studio with perfectly groomed hair, and kids to match? In my mind, those were the people who had portraits made. I have ten pounds to lose, my ten year old just got a mohawk yesterday, my husband works all the way in Baytown, so not only do we not have the time for a professional portrait, but we don't have the hair for it now either.

After my comment, Cindy looked at me thoughtfully and said, "You know, it's really not about finding the perfect time or moment, but about making the most out of the moment you have." And after turning that comment over in my head, I've begun to realize one thing: yes, we are busy, and yes, life is not perfect, but my kids aren't getting any younger. If I want to capture memories of these 4 fabulous children of mine who are at such different ages and stages, that I must essentially "meet the camera" at wherever we are in life -- mohawks, and all. In fact, I think I'm going to bring my kids in next week for Cindy's In and Out special. It's a condensed version of a full portrait session. I like this idea. The sitting fee is only $70 and since we have mohawks going on in our family right now, I don't feel as though the cost is a huge gamble. Cindy promises to get my kids' holiday photo taken in about fifteen minutes. Granted, In and Out is not one of Cindy's full blown portrait sessions, and in one of those you get fussed over by Cindy for at least an hour or so, but for a mom with no time on her hands, and four busy kids, this option will be perfect! We'll keep you posted on how they turn out. I can't wait!

I Love My Job!

There are so many ideas and thoughts roaming around in my head that I can’t seem to get a hold of one. I think it is because our lives seem busier than ever. I never thought that I would be this busy at this stage of my life.

I absolutely love what I do. I love the whole process of photography. I love to learn and take classes to stay current. I love all the different people that come into my studio and know that it’s time to stop time and create a memory. I love helping them beyond simply thinking, “We need a portrait.” And help them take the next step, whether that is talking through clothing ideas, bringing the clothes to the studio and laying them on the couch to discuss, finding a date that works, canceling that date to find a new date, rescheduling because of thunderstorms, finally getting to photograph, waiting for the pre-session jitters to go away and getting into the zone of shooting and the rhythm of being comfortable in front of the camera or even being camera unaware, editing for the very best images, projecting those images and discussing all the possibilities for the best impact, taking great care to edit the image for printing and combining the images for a story, studying the images for retouching and other enhancements, sending the order to the retoucher, sending the order to the lab, sending the order back to the print finisher (who is the same as the retoucher…..and is awesome, I might add….the best in the business, as far as I am concerned) exploring packaging and then watching the faces as they light up with delight. I love the whole process and I love the people that make the process necessary.

Thank you, thank you for a wonderful opportunity to see the beauty in everyone that walks in that door. So don’t wait until the perfect idea comes; instead, come in and we will make the idea perfect. But as my friend Judy said before Kristen’s wedding, “It doesn’t have to be perfect to be perfect.” …..including blogs.

Staying Young

This is Rhonda, Cindy’s assistant. Today I’ve hijacked her blog and am filling in for her on the blogspot. I’ve worked in Cindy’s studio for almost two months, and have been able to meet some fabulous people. Most of the people who come in are Memorial moms, like me, but sometimes you meet a woman, or a group of women who are just so out of the ordinary, that you continue to think about them after they’ve left. Such was the case with Mary Wallace and her three sisters. “There were four sisters that came into the studio yesterday,” I said to my girlfriends on our morning run. “And they were in their sixties, seventies, and eighties… they looked so beautiful and vibrant...” and then I told my friends that Mary Wallace and her sisters were exactly how I wanted to look when I was well into my sixties and beyond.

What is the secret of aging gracefully? I think these sisters have found it. The secret is...are you ready for this? The secret is that there is no secret. There is not a product, a procedure, or a price for looking younger. As I approach my forties, I am coming to understand that aging gracefully is all about attitude. It's an attitude of living deliberately. Mary Wallace and her sisters understand that social connections, connections with family, like beloved sisters, are what keep us young. I'm starting to think that, in spite of our busy lives, having a social life and staying in touch with family is not an option -- it's a prescription. The power of human connection is what keeps us young, healthy, and alive. Staying young is about laughing over a glass of wine, sharing a secret, getting up before the busy-ness of the day begins to meet your friends for a run or a walk...its about making sure you attend bunco night, or the Happy Hour, or make the effort to go to the neighborhood party.

If you are like me, you are so busy your head spins. I have four children all still at home, a husband with a demanding job, and commitments like crazy. Sometimes when I get an Evite, or another invitation, my first impulse is to blow it off. But what if, from now on, we sought out people? What if, at least once a day, we tried to reach out to someone, to make a phone call or take a walk with an old friend? I don't know that the lines on my face will disappear. I'm sure my hair will still be gray, but I'm almost certain my countenance will be changed.

Blogettes

Have had several things on my mind and my response was what a perfect time to blog. The days get busy and all of the sudden, it is “quittin' time." At any rate, here are a few "blogettes" that have been floating around in my head:

We left for Beaver Creek, Colorado for the Ellis wedding. Quick recap: we missed our plane because baggage check and security was insane. No problem, got right on the next plane after a “not too bad” wait. Lawyer husband left his blazer that he was going to wear on the plane and to the wedding laying on the bed. No problem again - went to Joseph Banks when we landed and bought not only a blazer, but a great pair of pants, shirt and two ties that I think are wonderful. While waiting for the pants to be hemmed, we went to a great new restaurant called La Sandia. The food was delicious and the service at the restaurant was as good as getting the pants hemmed on the spot. I told the waitress that I thought the chips and salsa were the best ever. I wanted to know if they sold the salsa. They didn’t, but when we got ready to leave, the waitress came with a big smile and a box full of chips and salsa. She thought we needed a roadie. As my favorite book says, “it takes so little to be above average.” I’m stilltalking about this smiling waitress.

Back home from the chilly nights in Beaver Creek and back to the business that I love. Getting ready for our Dog Days promotional and looking forward to the sweet pets, or "furbabies" as Ann Monteith, friend and past president of PPA calls them. Tuffy and Trooper came in again this year. They brought a Christmas tree, a package and a Fitz and Floyd Santa. Claudia had made little Christmas bowties with holly for them to wear. Oliver, the long haired Chihuahua, got the Bravery Award. He was so tiny and little, but just posed in spite of his fear. He definitely could try out for the Wizard of Oz. Mona and Lisa were two beautiful twin Dachshunds that just sat quietly as we dressed them in their “Desperate Housedog” sweaters. Feeling like pushing our luck, we added a few tutus that made for a different look. These dogs are now eleven years old, but I was able to hear all about their one year old Yappy Birthday party at Three Dog Bakery. They had hats with the number one on the front and all the party guests wore Scooby Doo hats to complete the celebration.

Sophia, our next customer, was so sweet and calm. It was very obvious that she had been to etiquette classes and passed with flying colors. She even brought in her mink throw to be photographed in it. Every now and then she would forget her manners and let her tongue slip out, but will forgive this because she was so fabulous, and her hair was too. In fact, I'm thinking of taking Sophia with me the next time I need mine colored/highlighted! Finally, Sherlock came in Tuesday for a headshot. He (yes, Sherlock is a dog) works at an Eldercare law firm and is in charge of marketing and homeland security. Hey, maybe barketing is a combination of marketing and security. Sherlock was so regal. His ears were about as long as he was tall. How could he have been abandoned by his previous owner? He loved it when I meowed.

My last blogette has to do with my sweet granddaughter. If you have read any of my earlier blogs, you know that I love Chanel Number Five. Aunt Evelyn wore it, I love wearing it and I have “encouraged” granddaughter # 1 to dab a little behind her ears for special occasions. I was talking to her on the phone and she had come up with an idea. “Cease, when Jack, Daddy and Coach go to a football game, can you and Mommy and I go get our nails done? AND…..when we are finished can we put on some Michelle Number Five?” Chanel will never, ever be the same. Why is it when it comes our of the mouth of someone we love, it becomes something so precious? Sarah will probably grow up and call it by its correct name, but for me….from here on out, it is Michelle Number Five.

“Well, Mary Lou………..!”

As my sweet daughter-in-law, Margo, says, “That’s what women do…..they catch up.” That is exactly what happened this morning when Mary Lou, my mother’s long-time (Since 1946, to be exact) friend from Amarillo, went to see her. Mary Lou said she had not seen my mother since we moved her to a memory loss center soon after Hurricane Ike. Mary Lou was here for a brief time last Christmas right after her husband, Joe, died; but, for “a good ole visit,” as my mother would say, it has been over two years. When we walked into the room, my mother was sitting in a wheelchair. I have never seen my mother in a wheelchair and it took me back. I was glad that I had Mary Lou and her daughter, Shirley, with me. But the sweetest moment came when Mother looked up and immediately said, “Well, Mary Lou!” Mother recognized her without any prompting. It was straight from the heart and the conversation was peppered with “remember when” memories. Here is what I took away (bullet points in honor of my son-in-law, Sam.)

• Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold. Today was golden.

• Your mind can retrieve pleasant memories …. make some.

• Friends accompany you through the tough times and the wonderful times in life.

• In spite of all the old age layers, my mom is still there.

• When we left, Mother seemed to be getting tired and more confused. She asked me if I thought that it would be best if she just stayed there. I agreed and then she looked at Mary Lou and said, “I wish you could come back every day.” Find a friend and tell her you love her.

• Friends can sometimes do what family can’t at the moment. Here’s the picture that this professional photographer took with my I Phone. I hate to tell the grandchildren and great grandchildren but Mary Lou managed to win the best smile producer award. Way to go, Mary Lou! You have given me a gift. I love you, Mother’s best friend.

Did you catch my wink?

“Not marketing is like winking at a pretty girl in the dark. You know what you are doing, but she has no idea.” Love that quote and love how it makes sense that a business has to let people know what they are doing. So now that the marketing materials have been chosen, we are headed back to Omaha to fly home. Since the flight wasn’t until 5:30 we decided to go home through Lincoln to see the University of Nebraska and the capital of this state. Several of my favorite people are from Lincoln, so I was eager to see their stomping grounds. Ken and Sandy come to have me photograph their family every year and Ken most often has on a Nebraska sweater for the picture. Before too many minutes he is looking for “ his friend, Gary”, and before long they are talking Husker/Horn football. What nice people!!! What great children! You will hear more “mams” and “sirs” in a minute from those well-mannered and loveable children. So I was excited to call them and tell them where we were.


We drove through the Nebraska countryside taking pictures of calming vistas. The repetition of the hay bales was gorgeous and I am sure that I stumbled on an Andrew Wyeth painting inspiration. Most images were taken from the car since we were running low on gas, but I managed to get Gary to stop at one inspiring sight. While I was photographing this ramshackle old house and leaning shed, Dan, the owner and a father of six, came rushing up on his four-wheeler to see what we were doing. After I assured him that I did not have bad intentions and told him that I was in love with Nebraska, he was so delightful. He has children from age 26 years down to a 5 year old. His smile was infectious. I told him how to find my blog and I hope he is reading this. I think it is interesting how people come into your life that make a big impression in a short amount of time.





We left Dan and his ramshackle house and shed behind (Dan also owned a very nice looking farmhouse a little way down the road), found a gas station and headed on to the Interstate leading to Lincoln. But before we could figure out what happened, we had not taken the wrong turn but had not taken a turn at all and missed the exit for Lincoln and were half way back to Omaha. So Lincoln will have to wait until the next Nebraska visit.

I was struck by the contrast of the sights in Nebraska and the sights out the window of the plane in our Chicago layover and our arrival in Houston. We weren’t in Nebraska anymore.






Joys ahead,

Cindy