Holiday Rituals
Since 1992, my best friend from college and I have visited each other at Christmas time alternating between her hometown of Lexington, Kentucky and my hometown of northern Kentucky. For the geographically challenged, Cincinnati. We graduated from Western Kentucky that year and we were uncertain about our future.
In 1993, she landed in New York City and I landed in Minnesota. Since then, it didn’t matter the distance, we have visited each other in Kentucky at Christmas time for the last 26-years. These holiday visits, whether for just an hour or two, include tales through jobs, relationships, children and aging parents. It is our special ritual we have together for a long time.
This past fall, we captured her immediate family portrait in her current New Jersey hometown. We discussed her extended family at Christmas time in Kentucky. It was definitely an uncertainty to get everyone in her family and my availability together for a photo. And yet, there we were on Christmas Eve for the 26th time. I am so thankful for our friendship and happy to capture her family in photos.
Opportunities for Extended Family Photos
It seems that holidays and funerals are the best opportunity to get these pictures of extended family. However, the funeral scenario is a bit awkward, isn’t it?
In early December, my sister-in-law’s mother wanted a photo of her family at her husband’s funeral because she told me it was a rare moment that her whole family was together. I didn’t bring my professional gear because I thought it was not appropriate for a funeral to take professional family photos. Yet, there I was taking family photos with my smart phone orchestrating a family photo. They were grateful for my efforts.
What I have learned this year is that these moments with extended family are special and each year brings us with new circumstances. I am grateful to capture these special moments with you.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
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