Its much prettier than the cabbage

It’s hard to believe that it is already August and I skipped an entire summer of blog posts. To be honest though – I’ve been writing them all along in my head and now I just have to take a few evenings to pour them out here on the world wide web. 

Busy would be an understatement to describe our Summer.  Joe has been incredibly blessed to have worked with some of the finest clientel any photographer could ask for!  The resort has been full steam ahead and in between work we have found a little time for play so that the kids don’t blink and summer is over.

This summer has been truly memorable.  Family visited for five weeks in a row and we survived, Michael Jackson died but I’m fairly sure we spotted him at Disney World, our dog is still lively but naps more than she used to and has gray in her muzzle, my son and I can wear the same shoes and he’s only nine, my daughter looks like Daryl Hannah and we’re terrified, our hearts were broken over losing a house three days before closing, we mended our wounds with brand new vehicles and have no room left in our driveway, and had the most beautiful sunflowers in our front garden that replaced the cabbbage.

In retrospect, it is probably one of the best summer’s I’ve ever had – nothing terrible to report, lots of laughter with the family (just imagine 11 Italians in less than 1300 square feet for over a week….), I didn’t gain any weight even though all anyone wanted to do was eat or cook during the visits and I passed my milestone – I have not been sick for two years! 

So as I delve into these next few posts  – everyone please accept my sincerest apologies for the delay on reporting our most intimate and hilarious moments these past few months.  =)

My brother spent years hoping that one day, our father would find the time to take him away to a secluded spot and experience the rite of passage of a son fishing with his father.  In retrospect, I think my father thought he had all the time in the world for that one day to happen.  I want to think that he didn’t purposely miss out on my brother’s life.  It wasn’t just the tackle box that sat collecting dust at the top of my brother’s closet.  As an adult, my brother’s father-in-law finally showed him the “ropes” and to this day, my brother is of course, an avid fisherman.  His bond with Mr. Ross is endless and grounded in a mutual respect that my father will never know with his son.

Today, my best friend in the whole world, and potentially, your Destin photographer, made sure that my son didn’t have a dusty tackle box at the top of his closet.  Joe has been the most amazing blessing for my children.  My son adores him and the more time that they spend together, the less you can tell them apart.  After purchasing his first rod and reel, the two boys headed off to go fishing in the Beaches of South Walton, rain or shine.  They came back soaking wet, but my son had a smile that stretched from ear to ear, and quite tall tales to tell.  There was a fish that got away, and he was sure of this because he saw the whiskers, and a bit of guilt from the fish that my son was positive got its face ripped off when he pulled on the line too hard.  Regardless of coming home without dinner, my son was not empty handed.  He brought home confidence and hope, and an experience that gave him a glimpse of his manhood. 

As for Joe, I would like to think that his ability to find such beauty in every scene as a photographer is what makes him such an amazing life partner and father.  He must see something in us that is worth all of the trouble.

I know many of you have been searching the web and finding several qualified Destin photography professionals, but I assure you that you Joe’s talent lies far beyond his camera skills.  Joe sees life differently, understands the small stuff, magnifies the forgotten and truly cares about the product he delivers.