My good friends, Diana and Renee!  Click to view large.  Read on for a story of balanced schmaltz and sincerity.  

Here’s the story.  I am delighted to have photos to show of Diana and Renee (vets in training), primarily because it means I actually saw them recently.  They live across the country from me and these are two of the best ladies I know.  They’re the reason I decided I should man up and get married.

Diana and I were freshman year roommates.  We came to peace quickly with the fact that we’re both complete and utter dorks and belonged together in our geeky uncoolness (we got yelled at for singing Queen in the wee hours of the morning.  I mean people banged on our walls to get us to shut up.  I think people called authorities.  And we were stone cold sober).

So one spring back a couple years ago, we’re all about an inch away from graduating. I think I literally had my whole life already packed into my hatchback ready to move across the country.  And at the time I could not possibly fathom getting married to my guy (now husband) because I thought it was not “respectable” for me to get engaged/think about getting hitched without my career off the ground (I know, this is coming from a girl who decided to pursue a lifetime in the arts; I don’t know why I thought any part of my plan was respectable to begin with).  We were walking along to get some farewell hot dogs (veggie, natch) and these two are calmly explaining the ten bajillion legal steps it would take for them to get “married” and how willing they are to embark on that legal odyssey.  Power of attorney, living wills, actual wills, how they would possibly have to adopt each other’s kids in the future, and they have complete and total confidence that each of these tiny legal steps will be worth it big picture to have the life they want together, the life that’s legally protected.  They’re just totally nonplused.  ”Oh, jump these hurdles?  No problem, whatevs.  We have animals to save in the mean time. Go go gadget puppy rescue!”

So that’s when I decided I should grow up and get over whatever sort of nonsensical fear I had of not being “taken seriously” because I stumbled into a really delightful relationship at what I perceived to be a not ideal time of my life. 

And I’m happy to say Diana and Renee just celebrated their engagement at Disneyworld (I told you we were kindred nerds).  They got buttons.  It’s going to be excellent, especially when we live closer to each other again and can be boring married couple bridge partners (Eh?? Eh guys??).

In short, when great stuff happens, it’s rarely because I planned it in my spreadsheet.  I stumble into it thanks to good timing and with the help of great friends like Diana and generally it takes quite a bit of prodding.  So here’s to my friends, helping me loosten up, as I try and get it through my thick skull to be appreciative when good things fall into my lap. I’m raising my glass to these gals who helped me take a leap of faith and probably had no idea what an influence they are.  Granted, this is also coming from a lady who started a photography business smack dabble in the middle of the biggest recession in decades so I do not claim to have the greatest judgement ever.  But anyway.  People accomplish more than my rinky dink business plans every day.  And hopefully my greatest is a long way away.  Like, about fifteen columns over and ten rows down in the spreadsheet.

Mazel tov, ya’ll!  Also I miss you guys.

I’ve worked with Dan at the Motion Picture and Television Fund and was flattered when he asked me to grab some engagement shots of him and his fiance Margaret.  I’d heard lots of good things about her and she’s pretty much the bees knees as promised.  I’m totally going to cash in on that dinner offer at some time y’all.  Beware: I’m a good eater.