i got an email this morning from my friend, jalayne. (fun little side-story)
this weekend i spent it with her, her boyfriend justin, and one side of her extended family. i have known most of them for over 15 years.
her lovely mom hired me to fly up and photograph the separate groupings of their family in their favorite places.
jalayne and justin: the city of san francisco
her mom and stepfather: their home in carmel, on an AMAZING nature preserve
her brother and sister-in-law: the beaches of monterey
who would have thought i needed a vacation after thailand, but it seems it was just what i needed. this wasnt even a vacation, it was a work trip, but i havent felt more rested all year. i got to hang out with really fun people and take a short road trip while talking the whole entire time about things we were all interested in. i got to sleep in a guest room made up just for me. with a bathtub that my six foot tall body could stretch out in. in the middle of acres upon acres of preserved beautiful natural land. i watched UFC for the first time in my life, and probably the last time, but it was in the theater room. how could i pass that up? not to mention the three sessions for a beautiful group of people that i think are really, really wonderful. i was feeling so thankful to jalayne and her mom this morning for organizing this and bringing this restful feeling (and that bathtub) to my life.
jalayne must have been reflecting about it the same way i was because in her email she said something that made me want to put my finger on my nose and point at her and jump up and down so she knew she had the right answer, she said, “but you were such a light to my life this weekend…like a flashlight that went to all the corners of the good…”
and that’s how i was feeling too.
justin, me, jalayne. just after our photo shoot was done. somewhere in the mission district. dont we all look like happy little flashlights?
tara – you have the most amazing smile!! i wish you could bottle & sell it, you’d make a fortune! you rock the casbah!
What an awesome weekend. I’ll bet it didn’t even feel like work.
What an amazing job you have!! To work and feel like you’re on vacation. Ah, sweet life! Hope you’ll share some photos from these visits!
No…you’re not six foot tall, are you? Really? Are you sure? ;) The camera must subtract seven or eight inches. My whole Tara-is-a-shorty image is ruined now.
Sounds like an amazing weekend. I’m only sorry I didn’t accidentally run into you on the beaches of Monterey this weekend( I live in Monterey). That would have been awesome:)
What a trip! I am SO SO SO jealous. I miss SF. You look wonderful. Now get your butt to Austin and be my flashlight. I am in desperate need of one and of some Tara goodness : )
I love that. And I’m happy to know I know the feeling. If only for a few short hours. I need to write that cute little saying down.
You do look like happy flashlights- And what a nice chance you´ve got, wow. Can´t wait to see the photos :)
( glad you are all OK T. thanks for the email)
Alette
Awesome! Sounds wonderful. I love that area. :-)
love your style, always have… and didn’t even know that you were ALSO 6 feet tall. me too! one more thing that i think that makes you so cool in what you do! continually following your lovely photo blog… from MN!
ah happy-ness! Have you ever seen a arm length photo that wasn’t jolly?
love all your photos
You make me grin – a big toothy smile! A fantastic photo!
Love this! I cannot even think of the words to describe how much I love your work.
And I also have pictured you in my head as a bit of a shorty, LOL
I may have to borrow that saying, for the right moment! Are you and your family far from the fires? I have been thinking of you…
Total happy flashlights. I called my bff at the crack of dawn this morning crying about this and that, and she listened as usual and spoke in tones that were total flashlights… what a wonderful thing to have been said – and how beautiful her words!
I always enjoy reading your blog and just wanted to tell you to not give up on UFC just yet! I am a teacher and a 35-year-old mom of two and I actually dig it!
Okay, I just can’t get past the 6foot thing. I can’t believe it!! Now I have to rearrange all my little brain nuerons to create a new Tara image:) And, yes, I can’t wait to see the images from your workation.
you’re so beautiful tara.
oh a road trip and a guest bed for me. You are killing me here… heavenly!
what a great gift from the mother.
Yes, you do look like happy little flashlights! Sounds like a great weekend, T. Look at how relaxed you look.
Margie
That’s such a cool thing to say.
Hi Tara,
the pics are very amazing and impressive. Thats watched them and thought Iam on holiday. Very nice. Thanks for sharing.