Once again, with FEELING....!

Last week seems a blur, 'though in hindsight it was not so much a blur as much as a great deal of "work".

I, like my mother before me and several others I know over the dress size 12 do NOT enjoy having their photographs taken. One because my brain thinks I look one way and the shock of seeing the reality before me is unpleasant; two because my face is what C would call 'fluid'. Thoughts, feelings, inklings, pleasure or displeasure, characters, emotions come through my face in an animated way.

Don't get me wrong, in preaching and teaching I'd rather see animation than Ben Stein any day..... but it is extremely difficult to make a headshot or portrait of someone with a fluid face. The expression is there and the photographer must be hot on the trigger and the shutter pretty fast to catch a certain image.

Last Friday, even in the midst of going through interpersonal transition I sat for my headshot/portrait which will be on the Farm website in the future. It was more difficult than I remembered - contorting the body for a certain silohette, holding up a naturally lazy eye time and time again; smiling into bright lights flashing in front, from the side and behind me. POP. (pause...'you look like you buried your dog', try again). POP. (no eyes; just chipmunk cheeks). It took several hours and a break in between because I was melting under the lights and the camera battery died. Besides, she was shooting a wedding the next day and needed a back-up.

The job got done, and she did a good job considering my inhibitions and hangups. Then it was strike the set, fold up the tripods, roll up the backdrop paper, the light defusers, the lights themselves, the lenses, camera. Over to the computer to download all 68..... yes, 68 photos. 'Too harsh', 'fake smile', 'no eyes', 'glum', 'too goofy'..... I had to step away after seeing 4 acceptable color photos which could be then be transferred to black and white.

C was shocked when I asked for as little touch up as possible.... with most clients it's quite the opposite. But heck, if they want to see what the woman who writes plainly looks like, they might as well see her in her plain, natural way - Deitrich I'll never be.

While C was of "shooting" I washed dishes and cleaned cupboards, boxing up dishes, groceries, clothing, gadgets. After doing some photos from the wedding, we both pitched into it, determined to make one more trip to Holland with as much of the remaining Smith treasures from Chelsea as possible, including photo gear, all kitchen materials, some books, art supply cabinets {home made}cleaning supplies, clothing, antiques, cast iron pans and a Shirley Temple mug. My car held the booze, pantry items and breakables (plus Emmy Lou, of course).

IT POURED in transit across the state. Luckily the trailer was well tarped and secured with more bungie cords than one can easily imagine. All went well. Pooped, I slept late and C unpacked most of the contents of the van, trailer and my car. On the way back to Chelsea for a sweep so that Ben could clean out his room and decide what to store and what would be given away. I left Chelsea, MI at 10:30 pm on Tuesday night and arrived in Orangeburg NY @ noon on Wednesday. I was tired at 6 am and took a nap in my overstuffed car (donations to a fall garage sale) for 2 hrs.

I'm back home. Two bags of mail was delivered to the house and I weeded out the recycle from the bills from the shredding. I had to prepare a sermon and weekend program for Jordan, NY. So that's what I've done. Emmy Lou will again be co-pilot as I have no dog sitter.....

....and life goes on, doesn't it. Change is constant. Learning to live with it gracefully is a goal to strive for...... and I'm strivin' the best I can!