This night marked Fred's 100th birthday and I was honored to have been asked to document it for his family.
I was expecting Fred to be a bit slower, maybe he'd need an arm to hold on to as he arrived at the hotel for his party. But no, Fred came strolling in and said ... "Well, here I am !"
Fred still drives himself everywhere, which includes the track.
It wasn't until his Daughter was giving her speech detailed Fred's life that I realized all the history that he's seen. The 1st World War, the Cuban missile crisis, the Beatles, civil rights, the depression.
And all through the speech, Fred just listened ... and so did we as we celebrated Fred's 100th birthday.
Norwood High School presented King Stag as their entry in the Mass Drama Guild 2013 competition. It was dramatic and funny and just a fine performance. And we would expect no less from this excellent group of actors!
There is so much anticipation mixed with wonder and laughter for the children as they prepare for their First Communion.
It is such a joy for me to capture this milestone in their lives.
Becca is graduating from college and stopped by for a few portraits.
I do live in New England where we get snow. This year we got our share.
This storm felt as if it would be an especially deep, quiet, gloomy storm, so I headed out to get a few photographs while I could.
I got as far as the end of the road - as took a few shots of the neighbor's house.
A bit unusual, and totally Who-iscal, Yes, it's Seussical the Musical at Walpole High School in Walpole MA
I am writing today's post on Monday April 15, 2013. It's "Marathon Monday" here in Boston MA and today bombs exploded at the marathon's finish line and forever changed history.
I am guessing that this day will be remembered for as long as there is a Boston Marathon - and whenever people talk about the Marathon they will say, "where were you the day the bombs exploded?"
The odd thing is that I had planned to write a blog post with this title yesterday. Mainly because over this past week-end I had photographed a 100th birthday party. Hearing about all the history that Fred (the birthday boy) had seen made me realize all the history that I had seen.
It's that moment when we saw the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show in 1964, the news flash that Princess Diana or President Kennedy had been killed or the World Trade Center disaster
Or maybe it's the birth of your child, your Son or Daughter hitting a home run or scoring a goal or leaving for college.
During those moments did we sit back and think ... "I have just witnessed history?"
No, it didn't feel like history, it felt like "now".
Today, as sad as the events (which are still unfolding as I write) are - they will be history. They will change everything - nothing will ever be the same.
Please acknowledge every small miracle in your life. Jump out of your chair and applaud for every song at your kid's concert, hug your best friend when you see them, kiss your Son and Daughter good-bye everytime they leave the house ... even in front of their friends.
Because you are living history.
Matt Brown was 15 years old when he broke his neck while playing a game with the Norwood High School (Norwood MA) ice hockey team and was paralyzed from the chest down..
That was about four years ago. Today, he still is in a wheel chair and requires 24 hour care but he is in college and living in the dorms.
This night, which was held at Boston's Fenway Park, marked the third and last Matt Brown gala. We found out from Matt that he was starting a foundation so that his future fund raising efforts could help others.
I was honored to have been the photographer for all three of the events.
Norwood High Principal, George Usevich (black suitcoat) talks with Michael Brown (Matt's Dad).
Here's a teaser from a session that I did with Najaam Lee of The Vedic Image Group and model Ty Smith.
I'll post more images from the session soon.
