RQT: The Girls of Summer

It's Random Question Thursday over at Ittybits & Pieces. If you'd like to play along please head on over to her site and leave her a comment and a link to your post.

Here is your question...

What is one of your favorite* summer-time memories?*


It doesn't have to be your favorite, just say the first thing that comes to mind.





The first thing that comes to my mind is summers in Sauble Beach with my two pals, Quack and Bobbina. I think we were 17 or 18 when this picture was taken in the basement of my friend's parent's cabin. That's me in the sunglasses and that's Quack with the long brown hair and Bobbina was the photographer (I'm sure she is glad for that at this point in time). Quack's parents were still in the process of building the cabin when we got there and everything was still very "rough". There wasn't even a door on our bathroom, yet. So Quack's Dad got to work on that as soon as we all arrived. How they put up with us laughing and dancing and playing loud music (a lot of The Smith's, New Order, and Depeche Mode I'm sure) until all hours of the night I don't know...but we sure had fun.

That fall we all headed off to University. That was pretty much the end of it - our nights of dancing with funny hats on, our tight little group, our carefree days...our youth. It's funny - at the time you think those good times are going to go on and on. You have no idea when something is over, that it is over

...until it's over.

We've always stayed "in touch", the three of us, but sadly we were never again as close to each other as we were when this picture was taken.

Quack studied Science and now holds a Masters in Physics as well as an M.B.A. Bobbina was just promoted to Senior Manager of Training at her automotive company - next step is Vice-President. That is pretty impressive for a girl who is 5 foot nothing and who weighs 80 lbs in a male-dominated industry. Me, I studied English, then Journalism, then I became a Veterinary Technician, then I studied Landscape Design, then I studied Photography some more...

Hmmm...I wonder just what I'll be when I grow up?

Where's my hat? I feel a funny dance coming on.

Random Question Thursday

Okay, so there is this photographer and she had a few photos published in a book that I was reading. I really, really, loved her style so I looked to see if she had a website. Turned out she did and not only that she has this really cute blog, about her really cute kids, and she publishes her really cool photos on it all the time. So, now, instead of just getting to see the three photos that I just love in my Portrait Photography book I get to see her stuff all the time. Today on her blog it is "Random Question Thursday" and this question begs for a photo or two. Any reason for me to get out my camera and start clicking is good...I can use all the practice I can get. Of course, this photo isn't anything special but it is a photo of something special.

Feel free to play along and then head on over to her blog and let her know you've participated.

Here's The Random Question of the Day...

What little something-something is sitting on a shelf in your kitchen that represents (or may actually be) a relic of your childhood?

This sugar container is part of a set. It was given to my Mom by my Dad, piece by piece, every year on their anniversary. I always thought it was kind of sweet that he would do this. He always remembered and he was always able to find new pieces. He must have been very big on traditions like this. Just like how he always remembered to give me a pink rose on my birthday. He also would not go to sleep at night without kissing everyone good-night. As a kid I would have to always make a game of this, of course, and I would hide from him under tables, and beds, and in closets. He never got fed-up or impatient with this...he'd just keep looking, and looking, for me until he found me and could give me my kiss good-night. This set of crockery is mine now. It's the only thing I have to remember him by except for a couple of photos. I don't have room for it all on my counter, but I keep the sugar container there and I use it every day.

It would have been his 80th birthday today. He was 52 when he died. Hard to believe.

Happy Birthday, J.P.M.