Thanks Ed & Caley. This cat (Iggy) is nuts about my youngest, and tolerates me, my wife, and the other six kids. He rams his head into Sam's face...and has always made it abundantly clear who his favorite is. Even as an infant Sam has loved "Iggy the piggy"...use to sleep with him as a baby too...it's an interesting connection to behold.
Christian, if you are thinking that I'm one in a family of nine...then you "got it". This cat kinda pisses me off...I mean...he use to sleep wrapped around my neck as a kitten...now he just tolerates me. I've always had cats...and they came when I called, perched on my shoulder, sat on my lap, displayed open affection, but this one...as soon as he saw Sam...dumped the whole family. Personally, I think he is a snob...a pretty cat with little or no personality. Then we got this other cat named "Lucy"...who Sam has named "Lucy goosey"...she is fat, fat, fat...llike no other cat I have ever owned...Now I call her "the shredder" for her tendency to rip humans to pieces while playing with her. I want a Burmese...they are smarter, and better tempered...but adding anymore to the menagerie of rats, hamsters, and cats would upset everything in our home....
Bravo, Jim! Beautiful photo. I'm sorry not to have gotten around to commenting before this. Congratulations on it's making the finals. Well deserved! Seven kids, eh? What's the mix and ages? You are a blessed man. Cherish them all.
Endre, I am blessed. I'll give you the short version of how I got to where I am now. I was widowed on Christmas day 1996 with four little ones. My wife was widowed about five months earlier on the other side of the planet from me...Australia...she with a toddler, and one on the way. We met online in a widowed listserv....I knew she was my type, but didn't even know what she looked like...hint - integrity is my big turn on. We dared to believe we could take two shattered families a world apart and make one whole one, and we did it. Immigration and all! This little redhead is the result of us adding to this union. The kids are 7-17 years of age...six boys and one beautiful girl. I don't just cherish them....I cherish life. I honestly wish I had some magic wand that could alleviate your pain, but I know from experience that there isn't any. When the memories make you smile instead of cry...then you will know that your heart is healing. My wife and I will continue to pray for you and your family. We know that the smallest of things can trigger a "grief attack"...at least that is what we both called it. I have just started doing freelance again after a ten year hiatus, but I managed to continue shooting professionally enough to keep a roof over our heads, and food on the table. Your talent with the camera is amazing...to say the least. Assuming your violin is equally perched upon excellence....makes you an extremely remarkable guy in my opinion. Hang in there...there is joy in life...even after such a profound loss. I just want you know that people do care about you, and your pain...and we do understand what you and your family are going through.
I just want to say that the more I've seen this picture, the more I like it. It is one in a million - your son is so cute and the timing of your shot was so perfect. This one got my vote without a moment's hesitation. Congrats on making the finals.
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