This week's Friday shoot-out is Celebrate Life and I feel like I have brain freeze instead of ideas. Seems like it should be a fun topic after all there are birthdays, and weddings, and births, and parties, and children at play, and young and old holding hands, all activities that celebrate life and are taking place even as we speak. But I can't seem to SEE any celebration of life. I haven't even taken my camera out of the house this week, usually I carry one or the other everywhere I go. I feel frozen - suffering from Brain Freeze....
These feeling are because I have been traveling for the past 2 months. Panama, Columbia, Houston, a 15 day drive across the USA and now, back in Houston and I am scheduled to return to Rio on July 7. If you have been following the blog you have been along with me in this time of travel and it wont be hard for you to understand that I am ready to go home and am not able to find any real interest in going out into Houston's 100 degree days to find photos of celebrations of Life.
I finally decided at 10 pm tonight to tell you of a special friend that I had lunch with today. She said to me, "use my photos, my just being here is a celebration of life." Luisa, a friend of mine for over 20 years is now 87 years old. I met her when I first divorced and was struggling to find my new self.
We met out dancing and I can only regret that this was before I was taking photos. I have nothing to publish that would show you the life that she had, the energy, the laughter, the temper, the joy for dance, that she had then. Last fall she agreed to sit for me while I experimented with portraits. She hated all the photos, "I look so old", but to help me out of my brain freeze she offered herself. I took both black and white and color, but for me only the color photos tell her story.... only color celebrates her life.
Luisa looks nowhere near 87!!!!
ReplyDeleteI think that is a beautiful post, Ginger.I for one,loved it.
Is that Camillo on the hammock? That looks like my idea of celebrating........lying down! :D xx♥
What a beautiful lady friend you have. Very classy! Looks like she is a great friend and a good reason to celebrate life!
ReplyDeleteWonderful post to celebrate life! It is always a pleasure to witness great friendship. It is definitely one of the most great celebrations in life. How nice of Luisa to pose for you. Best wishes to both of you from Indonesia :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely lady! What a lovely story! What a lovely celebration of life! You are so right GingerV - PEOPLE are what life is all about - it is important that we celebrate them!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the Huston heat! Hope that you are in an air conditioned place.
while I was floundering around trying to decide what to post I put up the photo of Camillo acting goofy in his hammock. 'Vida Boa' good life.... this is Camillo's primary objective - to have the good life. gingerv
ReplyDeleteYou can tell this lady celebrates her life every day. She likes fun, but she can be very thoughtful. What a great friend you have to celebrate!
ReplyDeleteGinger- What a beautiful post! Friends are wonderful reasons to celebrate life! Happy 4th my friend.
ReplyDeleteGinger, you could not have chosen a lovelier topic for your shoot out. And the way you talked of your friend Luisa, well it was just wonderful, and the true meaning of a life celebrated. She reminds me much of a dear friend of mine in Holland, 92 years old still so full of life and energy that she makes me feel liek the old one at age 51!! I hope to be just like her when I grow up!! :-) Debby
ReplyDeleteHurray for Luisa and her bright red hair! You go girl!
ReplyDeleteLove these shots. They hold a ton of character.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful. Just beautiful. :)
ReplyDeleteExcellent take on the celebrations of life...what an amazing friend you have - and an amazing person you are!
ReplyDeleteI love your photos of your special friend. Special friends are a treasure. When you are together, life feels like a celebration, even when there is no cake, balloons or presents. Happy Fourth GingerV! xoxo
ReplyDeleteLovely post Ginger, and what a great friend Luisa looks.
ReplyDeleteGreat header picture too.
I just spent a weekend with my aunt who is her age, and it seems like we hang out with very colorful and wonderful souls! My tongue is going out right back at here, LOL!
ReplyDeleteGinger, your friend is lovely, and so is your flower. Do you remember when 87 seemed really old? When 87-year old people were old people? Times do change.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful story, beautiful photos. I should think of something clever to say but all I can think is, "You nailed it!" That is a true celebration of life!
ReplyDelete(((((((((((((HUGSTOYOU)))))))))))))))Hi there,I am new to your Blog,I think I came acroos from Melissa,someweretohide.Very nice post here and what a beatiful women,She seems so full of life,wish I was that way.
ReplyDeleteLovely story and celebration of life it is!
ReplyDeletePretty amazing story and post for brain freeze! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI can't think of a better way to show "Celebrating Life" than that of a good friend! What we do with out them??
ReplyDeleteBlessings for you and your's on this our Nations Independence Day.
God Bless America!
Safe travels as you return home.
What a lovely lady!! She is the perfect subject for this assignment!! Wonderful photos :)
ReplyDeletehey Ginger - thanks for making me infamous worldwide.
ReplyDeleteI just thought I could no longer travel - didn't know I could send myself around the world the d.... computer.
sorry - from Luisa
ReplyDeleteI am touched by your friendship with Luisa. this is one of the great ways to celebrate life with such a best friend being there to share with you every joy and woe!
ReplyDeleteThi is great! I love the story of your friend Luisa. This is so real! "for me only the color photos tell her story.... only color celebrates her life."- i love this line.
ReplyDeleteJust by her photos I like this woman! I can see her as a character so strongly - I'd love to write about her . . . what a face! No, tell her she DOES NOT look "so old" - she is lovely and her face is full of life and glows!
ReplyDeletecongrats to your friend. She doesn't look 87. You have done a good post.
ReplyDeleteYou will need another holiday when you get back to Rio.
Wonderful shots of your friend...and I can understand your readiness to go home. I am looking forward to your shots when you get there.
ReplyDeleteHi Ginger V, great celebration of life post! I just love your friend
ReplyDelete