Happy Anniversary to my bride of 26 years!!
“I would have to tell you, you have bewitched me body and soul and I love you and I love you. And never wish to be parted from you from this day on”
I love you sweetheart XOXOXO
July 4th fireworks in Mt. Juliet.
Let’s just call this photo….. “Pre-Father’s Day 1953”.
This is my Dad deep in thought waaaaay back in 1953. I’d like to think he was wondering…I can’t wait to have kids, a son or two. Maybe even a girl. That would be just grand. Well Daddio….your wish came true. Who knew a mere 10 years later you would have those boys and two girls to boot.
Dad handled fatherhood like he does everything in life…a smile, a prayer and full speed ahead. Growing up you could always count on him for anything. It didn’t matter if it was math, music, building something out of wood or electronics, he always had a plan.
Oh, don’t get me wrong…there was the occasional “don’t make me turn this car around” or “no…you can’t go to the beach till that lawn is mowed..” But I dare say I didn’t deserve it. In fact how Dad survived my teenage years still astounds me!!
Yep, Mac Pullen was quite the Dad. Still is. So on this Father’s Day all I can say is thanks for always being there for me….and helping me survive.
I love you Dad!
Last day on the beach before heading home. What a beautiful day…clear skies, emerald waters and no oil on the beaches. Wish I could stay a week more!!
A small cafe in Seaside. I just used a little Photoshop magic to add definition to the edges and brought up the colors. I think it gives a better feel to what the atmosphere of the cafe really was.
“You can’t always control the circumstances in life, but you can control your attitude toward those circumstances.” — Alexander Lockhart
Another beautiful vacation sunset on the Florida panhandle.
I found this cute couple standing on the boardwalk late this afternoon. They were watching a wedding taking place near the waters edge. As they watched the ceremony they whispered to each other and giggled. I’d like to think they were remembering their wedding day and sharing secrets. After the ceremony was through they clapped in approval and blew kisses. Then they turned around and walked off…..together.
Nancy always has such a beautiful garden. Every few weeks brings out a new burst of color…
new flowers or a fresh smell from all the blooms. It’s a nice place to sit and listen to the bubbling fountain and enjoy the quiet beauty of Nance’s garden.
She loves me……she loves me not……she loves me…..
We once asked Tyler what he wanted to be when he grew up. He couldn’t decide whether it would be a lion or a ghost. I guess this picture was taken during his “Lion” phase.
Tyler has always been a that great mix of a the quiet silent type with a little zaniness wrapped up inside. He never ceases to amaze Nancy and I. Whether its his work in school, his friends or his life in tennis, he has always been 100 percent devoted. A great son and a joy to watch grow into a fine young man.
Happy Birthday Ty……we love you!!
My Memorial Day Hero - This morning I attended a Memorial Day celebration in the small town of Lebanon Tennessee. I thought it would be a good chance to get some good shots of home town heros and hear stories from the veterans. As walked through the small crowd taking photos there was an older lady which everyone seemed to know. She had a smile and hug for everyone. She was the only one in all white which made her stand out as she made her way through the crowd. As I focused in on her to get her photograph, I noticed the gold star on her blouse. A Gold Star Mother….the mother of a fallen soldier. It was hard to imagine this outgoing, bubbly and happy mother could have ever suffered through such a loss no matter how long ago it was. Yet there she was smiling and welcoming all as if they were all her children.
Near the end of the service a wreath was placed at the memorial marker in front of the courthouse. The wreath was placed by this Gold Star Mother as well as two veterans. She stood quietly saluting as taps played. It was the only time you could see the sadness in her eyes. As taps ended she hugged the veterans standing with her and returned to her seat. As quickly as the sadness appeared on her face, it disappeared. The service ended and she went about thanking everyone for attending, handing out plenty of hugs and kisses as she worked her way through the crowd.
On Memorial Day we always remember our fallen soldiers. But let’s not forget the ones left to carry on. The family members left to help us remember what our sacrifices were and put a face to all the names we could so quickly forget.
One of Nancy’s roses after a light afternoon rain shower. I have taken a little PS liberty with the composition and color of the the rose petals.
I had to travel down to Atlanta today. It was a beautiful day. Somewhere in north Georgia I came across a field of grass and flowers. I just couldn’t resist getting out and wandering around for a few minutes. Work could wait….clients could wait….heck, life would just have wait for a few moments while I enjoyed Mother Nature. I didn’t even care if it was a little ‘snakey’. What snake would want to bite anyone on a day like this? I wandered around for a few minutes taking it all in. After a couple cars stopped to help (wondering if I were drunk, lost, drunk and lost) I decided to saddle up and head south to the big city. Sure wished I could have sat there a little while longer though!
This is the week we remember the brave officers who gave their lives to protect us all. For some of us, it’s the week we remember our friends we lost. We are all better people because of these officers. We miss having them with us to share this life they helped protect.
National Police Week, May 9 - 15, 2010. This link will take you to the National Law Enforcement Memorial site…. http://www.nleomf.com/ . Please take a moment this week and go to this site. It is the home page for the Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington, DC. Make a donation, buy something or just leave a message. All donations go toward the maintenance of the memorial and the building of the National Law Enforcement Museum. Nancy and I always stop by when we visit Washington. It’s a beautiful memorial and well worth the visit.