Brotherly Outtakes

About 2 weeks ago, I got the chance to photograph the two sons of some of my longest running friends.  Yah, longest running, not oldest.  If they're old friends, that makes me old, and I'm not old.  So there. 

Here's a little background on these amazing folks:  M and I met at birth.  Pretty much.  She was born 17 days before me at the same hospital, our parents were both members of the same church, we were dedicated by Pastor Gordon, we went to the same nursery, elementary school, junior high school, and high school.  You could say we've known eachother for a while.  In fact, when were in the fourth grade, our parents decided to put us both into an accellerated summer school and we both skipped (or fast forwarded through) the same grade. 

Her husband, A, came along when we were all in the first grade.  Yah, first grade.  No, they weren't sweethearts back then.  He had cooties, duh! 

So fast forward a few years, my first act as a bridesmaid was at their wedding. 

Then I visited them at their home near Coronado in San Diego. 

After a few years, they started adding to their family.  I had the pleasure of photographing their two boys 2 weeks ago.  While I'm waiting until they have the photos in their hands to share the good ones with you, I have to show you a series of outtakes from the shoot. 

Meet E, 4 years old, and N, 2 years old. 

E decided to tell me a story while N wandered around aimlessly doing everything in his power to avoid me.  It was so funny! 

E to me: "So are we gonna have chicken hamburgers for lunch?" 

Me to E: "What's a chicken hamburger?" 

Then his mom told me that it's Chick-Fil-A.  Genius. 

Then N says: "Whoa!"  (Almost falling over)

E to me: "I don't like In 'N Out."

Me to E: "I don't like it either." 

E to me: "Oh wait, I like it now." 

Then E did a little dance.  It cracked me up! 

I hope you laughed like I did!  

Where were you when __________?

Every single American newspaper relays the same thing today: Osama Bin Laden has been killed at the hands of United State's Special Forces. 

That is the statement that American's have been waiting for.  Just 4 months before we will mourn the 10 year anniversary of the attacks on our country, we have murdered the man that lead Al Qaueda to our door. 

As I watched the Today show on NBC this morning, they sent Matt Lauer to ground zero.  Hundreds of New York citizens were stopping at the edge of the fence on their way to work or play.  Now this was poignant in itself, until you realize that ground zero is simply a huge construction site.  We are rebuilding.  We are growing.  We are healing.  However, the hundreds of people cheering, praying, blowing kisses, and shedding tears prove to me that we will never forget. 

And then I cried. 

I cried because this man was an icon of my lifetime.  I cried because my military friends and family have been fighting the war on terror.  I cried because I was relieved. 

That relief was short lived when I realized that killing this man did not kill the entire sect of people that hate America.  I cried when I realized that some one else will probably take his place.  I cried when I remembered that my cousin will be headed to Afghanistan this fall. 

So as we enter into a time of celebration, I ask you all to please keep praying for our millitary and their families.  The war against terror isn't over just because we killed this man, in fact I'm afraid it's only getting started. 

Love you shrimp. 

"But if you carefully obey his voice and do all that I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries."
Exodus 23:23