This is a project I have been working on for months, as my first attempt to get behind my camera again after my Papa passed away this year. For those of you who know me, Papa is someone I had the most incredible amount of love for. There wasnt a time that he wasnt cracking jokes and making people laugh. Whether it was at Sunday dinner, where he would try to make some smart comment to my Uncle Darren claiming he wasnt hue deficient like he was saying (clearly the top of the cheese container was red, not green), or telling Nana she was off her rocker when he knew he was wrong but wanted to give her a hard time, Papa was always laughing. He was so full of life, and he lived 90 years full of family, adventure, and laughter. I looked up to Papa in so many ways.
Papa had been fighting several health issues for a couple years and when he fell in April, we were told that it would be the downhill slope. While Papa was giving it his best his body wasnt able to keep up with his spunk and he left us a week before my 25th birthday on April 20, 2015. He was surrounded by friends and family in his home with love pouring out for my Nana and the family from people I didnt even know, but that were a part of Papa's life. I knew that he touched so many people's lives, but I was unaware of just how many until his service where the chapel was filled with anyone who knew him. Everyone had a story to tell about how Papa had helped them, or made them laugh, or been there for them when they needed someone. Despite there being tears for the loss of such a wonderful husband, father, grandpapa, and friend, the most common thing that was happening was laughing as story was told about him.
I hit a really rough patch while I was dealing with the loss of Papa and I didnt spend any time behind my camera. It was hard for me to put myself into my work because I felt that I had lost such a big part of my life. I was trying to do several things to get me back in my groove and it finally hit me. My younger cousin Thomas didnt only get his name after Papa but just so happens to have gotten his good genes and looks just like Papa did when he was his age. I hit Thomas up when I had a solid idea of what I was thinking of doing and he was so down. I then went to my Nana, Mom, Aunt Lori, Aunt Karen, Aunt Jo, and Aunt Fran and asked them to pick their favorite picture of Papa because I had a class that I was taking that I needed them for. (We wont talk about the fact that I graduated from college last year but no one seemed to ask questions about that. Yeah, didnt think of that one did you, ladies. ;p ) While we werent able to get all the shots done in time for Christmas like I wanted to, we were able to get three of them done without life throwing stuff in the way.
People inspire me, and Papa was the biggest inspiration to me to be great. This project was fueled by him.
I had so much fun with this project and with having something that made me so excited to get behind the camera again. Thomas, thank you for being so into helping me get this done and for sharing all the stories about Papa that you had. I know that you loved him so much and I see so much of his love in you. I cant wait to do the last three that we have.
Nana, Aunt Lori, Aunt Fran, (even though you dont have yours yet) Mom, Aunt Jo, and Aunt Karen I hope that you enjoy having these shots of Papa and Thomas as much as I enjoyed putting them into my photography. Papa loved all of us so much and he was always ready to show us whether it was as a husband to Nana for 50 years, or to all of his daughters who he would have done anything for, and especially to his very long list of grandchildren and great grandchildren.
- I miss you everyday, Papa. I know that you are up in heaven having a good time making everyone laugh, and also spending plenty of time down here making sure that we have a clear path to walk down. I miss your jokes, but I am so happy that you taught all of us how to make jokes out of anything we have going on. I miss your laugh, but I am so glad that there is so much laughter that happens whenever we sit and talk about you. I miss your warm hugs, but I love that you taught the family to care so much about each other and that there are so many people who we can turn to whenever we need a hug. Thank you for all of the things that you taught me and for all of the love that you have given me even after you passed. I know that I will see you again one day, and I know that you will be there to hear about all the things that I did. Until then, please keep your eye on all of us as we try to follow in the adventure and love filled footsteps you left for us. As I am sure that you are doing. Enjoy.
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