My Boston: We will not be defined by the hateful actions of few, but rather grow and live on in the strength and love of many

The countdown to the anniversary of the Boston Marathon Bombing has been echoing loudly. Each day there is a new story on the TV news, Facebook, and in the paper. Part of me wants to eat up every story and emerge myself into the pride of "Boston Strong!" But as I read these stories...stories of a very long and hard year for the survivors and the families of those lost...I don't feel strong. I feel overwhelmed by sadness and overcome with emotion. I feel the weight and sorrow of a wounded (but not broken) city.

I feel an immense amount of pride in being from Boston--and have long before the tragic events in 2013. I posted a blog last April on the night that the bombers were caught. As I wrote, the Police and FBI were chasing the brothers through the streets of my world. The streets where my parents and grandparents grew up, where I went to college, worked for many years, and made a million wonderful memories with my husband and children. I did not know of the chase, bloodshed and manhunt until that next morning. 

Here is what I wrote that night:  Boston: We Build This City

I felt angry and sad. I still do. I felt an overwhelming connection with with people who lost their lives. It's as if the 3 souls lost at the marathon finish line represented all of Boston. An international college student who chose to come to Boston for it's amazing educational opportunities, a beautiful girl next door enjoying one of the best days of the year in Boston, and a young boy full of potential. (And later, a first responder who took such pride in his job.) My own son would be the same age as little Martin and my daughter the same as his little sister, Jane. We have never met the Richard family and most likely never will. As I read the Boston Globe's thoughtful and thorough two-part article about their journey, I felt that the details of their daily life before the 2013 Boston Marathon were so similar to my own. The backyard baseball and street hockey. The requests for last minute sleepovers from 9 year-old boys. The endless scramble to get out the door including 11th hour clothing changes... It is my own life. How could their very ordinary, yet beautiful world be rocked to it's very core? I respect their efforts to hold onto some privacy and create a new normal for their surviving 2 children. I wish there was something that would truly help them. I honestly don't know what that would be.

Doris Kearns Goodwin quoted Hemingway on Meet the Press last Sunday, "The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places." I do believe that Boston is stronger and hopefully also safer after the 2013 Marathon Bombings. And I also feel that our beautiful Patriot's Day is forever changed. 

We were strong before the 2013 bombing. People like Dick and Rick Hoyt remind of us the depth and possibilities our true strength. 

I will not be running the marathon in the memory of those lost or making any large public efforts, but rather, I will quietly love my family and try to pay it forward. 

I love Boston. Boston is a real city. We will not be defined by the hateful actions of few, but rather grow and live on in the strength and love of many. 

These are some of my favorite day to day moments in our beautiful city.

This is My Boston....

   

  

  

  

Honoring Mothers...

Over the past several years, I have been inspired by an amazing group of women. It is a group we all know--one way or the other. Many of us are in this group ourselves. If we aren't, we certainly know many who are...Mothers. 

Last year I was inspired by an article I ready about mothers getting “into the picture” with their kids. Too many among us are self-conscious and miss the opportunity to get precious photographs with our children while they are still young. I spent the year encouraging mothers to get right in there in front of my lens with their little ones. It’s been a wonderful experience. Moms, Give Your Child a Treasure. You.

During the Winter Olympics, Proctor & Gamble created and Ad that is an amazing tribute to mothers of athletes. I’m sure many of you have seen it. It was about picking your child up, literally and figuratively and sometimes being the only one to keep them going.

Watching this ad, reminded me of a childhood friend of mine whose son has special needs. She literally picks him up so that he can experience the world around him. Her son is just 4 months older than my own. It all seems unreal to me. All of a sudden, it hit me that as mothers, we do everything we can for our children—whether they are Olympians or children with special needs. At that moment, with some added inspiration from an amazing Connecticut photographer, Lynn Damon, I realized that I wanted to pay tribute to mothers of all types through my photography.

As mothers, we all love our children, encourage our children, and fight for our children. How we go about that day-to-day, might look very different. Some are encouraging their little ones to be brave enough to make a new friend, try out the goalie position in soccer or to read out load in class. Others are navigating the world of special services and health care. We all strive to provide our children the best and most meaningful life possible. And to show them the love that is in our hearts.

I often create photography projects and goals for myself to keep improving my craft...and building on what I love....Capturing Moments in Life. My goal is to photograph 5 to 10 mothers who have a child (or children) with special needs in the spring and summer of 2014. I’d like to feature them with all of their children, if possible. I hope to capture their unconditional love for each other. Some of these children may have visible special needs while others may not to be obvious in a photograph. Part of this project is to provide these images to the families and also to encourage all mothers to “get in the picture” with their children. Another part is to create a fundraiser for children with special needs. Mother's Day 2014 will be the kick-off of the project.

Please contact me if you know of a mother who would like to be involved. JustSoDesigns@gmail.com

Also, please visit Our Promise to Nicholas to learn more about one family's story and struggle with a rare neurodegenerative disease called Batten Disease. Nicholas and his family are a true inspiration and will be featured in the Honoring Real Mothers Project.

More to come...