Thanksgiving Memories

The night before Thanksgiving, I was making cornbread for dressing. Something about that, really made me miss my friend Gina. We met about Thanksgiving time, but it was really more the cornbread and dressing as we made it the same way.  We were working at the Christmas store in the Tyler mall. Gina and her sister were hired after I was. When Gina and I met we clicked. It was almost like we had been friends for life. I remember sitting in the back room talking over lunches and getting to know one another.  So, so many memories from the 1989 until she went home to be with Jesus in 2006. Sweet memories of a very good friend.

I woke up sick on Thanksgiving morning. Not the best way to start a day of thankfulness. Killer sore throat. Not good. Despite that, we still had a good day. We missed Eric, even though he hasn't been with us the last couple of Thanksgivings. Jeremy was here with us for the day. Dean cooked a ham. I made the dressing. Joy Anna and Jeremy made apple pies. Joy Anna and I made dumplings. I asked her how they looked as we were rolling them out. She said they were okay, but they would be better if Nanny was there with us while we were making them. Of course, I agreed.

That stirred up a lot of Thanksgiving memories over the years.  The last time I saw Nanny was Thanksgiving week in 2008. We had only been here a few months, and Dean took off a week to take us home to visit. Many times when we left her, I would think that it would be the last time I saw her. That time, I just knew. Even that year, we continued the tradition of putting up her Christmas tree for her on Thanksgiving day. It just doesn't seem like Thanksgiving without doing that.

There were all the family gatherings, trips to the woods, football - and Uncle Ed always being anti- football. There were lots of Black Friday shopping trips - I can actually remember things bought on Black Friday trips over the years. Dean and I bought our first VCR. Aunt Nell bought me a sweater I still wear. I remember getting up really early one year to get Eric a code for something on his handheld game system at Toys R Us.  This Black Friday, I slept all day.

I really am thankful for all the memories. They shaped me into who I am today.

A Do-Over: A New Blog for Pam

Hello,
I decided a while back my current blog was just too depressing - it even depressed me! And so, I started over. Don't you wish do-overs were as easy in real life?

Some times, we do get do-overs, but they are not usually easy. This week was one of those do-over type weeks for me. It all started last Monday. Or maybe it started on Sunday with a family session down town. I had a blast with a family with 4 kiddos. We took fun photos of the whole family and some really cute (if I do say so myself) photos of the kids. Notice little Miss E's eyes.

 

The mom works at a local jewelry store. She and I met when I took my ring into be repaired. She was showing off her photos the next day when they decided I should take photos of the jewelry. I did some research, but mainly to figure out how to price. This is where the do-over became a necessity. 

I went in to take the photos and Michelle was not there. Another employee helped me by choosing the jewelry. It didn't go great. I was disappointed that the tags couldn't be removed because it made it very difficult to get a good photo. If you know me, you know how much I enjoyed doing props for church productions and setting the scene. In a way, that is a contradiction to the way I usually think of photography. I am one of those odd photographers who prefers the person to be the main part of the photo - not the prop. I wanted to set up scenes, but I was told to just take individual pics of the jewelry - it was sort of like jewelry mug shots- even the labels. Just like mug shots, the tag really didn't help the photo. 

I was not overly pleased, but the photos were crisp and in focus. I had done the best I knew and the best under the circumstances. I had other fish to fry - or people to photograph, anyway.

Over the weekend, I did the Day of Glitz and Glamour at Bellezza Salon. I set up on Friday night after doing a Senior Session with Maggie.

I didn't get a lot of sleep, because I was too excited. I had really hoped for 30 ladies. We didn't get it. We worked so hard on Saturday and had a lot of fun. It was very tiring. I thought things went very well with the ladies. We were supposed to have a session on Sunday and one on Monday, but the one on Sunday rescheduled. I must say I was glad for the day off.

Monday afternoon I heard from the jewelry store. They didn't like the photos. I was pretty upset. It seems that every time, I get on what I think is a roll, I crash into a boulder and stop. I asked about the possibility of redoing them - using props, setting the scene. She said she would check, so I was in a holding pattern with them.  Monday evening we did the session that had rescheduled, but the other one never showed up. After the session, I sat down with the owner of the salon. after that meeting, I was about ready to just quit photography. We had worked together to come up with fair pricing. We required a deposit, but they were supposed to pay for their session at the time of the session. She didn't charge that! I was devastated. I had worked all of that time for free. Because we spent more than I intended for advertising, our profit was reduced, but not to collect anything except as the deposit, was devastating. She says that they are good for it and we will get it, but I am really not sure that will happen. I have put them online, but no one has ordered or responded. I am hoping it will happen tomorrow. I sent reminders tonight. We are going to do a do-over on December 8. This time, all fees will be paid in advance!

Monday night was not a good night. I got no sleep. I spent a few hours researching how to take jewelry photography just in case they gave me the opportunity to try again. Thankfully, they did! I got my do-over. Now, to make it right. I spent Tuesday out looking for more salons and studying jewelry photography. I also purchased a light tent and lights. I spent Tuesday night studying some more - until about 2 am. 

Wednesday came and it was time to try again. We had talked about it and decided to try props and setting the scene. We had a much more productive day. 

On Thursday, they called again. They liked the photos, but they wanted some close ups and some more scenes as well. :) This do-over did much better, but it was not easy. I went back on Friday. 

Thankfully, there are times we get a do-over, but do we always make the best out of it? I hope I do.