My night with Johnny

Meet Johnny - one of the happiest people I've ever come across. My cousin brought him up to Sunday supper the other night and what a joy he brought with him.  Johnny is a 17 year old teenager with down syndrome and he has absolutely no comprehension of negativity - it's amazing to witness.  He lives in his own state of constant happiness, giving hugs to everyone he meets, kisses to any of his 11 girlfriends (one being Catwoman), and honestly lifted my spirits far more than any of those happy pills ever could.

Cooper and Johnny

I'm so proud of Coop for befriending him - they go everywhere together.  

Meet girlfriends #12 and #13.  The 'wicked stepsisters' (neither both, really).  Over and over he kept saying, 'kiss me!' I was a little bummed that Johnny said we could only be friends but in all fairness, I was wearing a really strange African mu-mu and could barely walk from the wedding I shot the night before - not my best look.

Everyone is Johnny's friend because he has no notion as to why anyone wouldn't be!  He is quite the hit at school, too, where he was crowned Prom King last year as a Sophomore.

'Joy'

Thank you for letting me in your world of happiness for a night, Johnny.  What a treat it was.  

God bless our troops.

I do not spend enough time thinking about what they go through. Bless every single one of them.

When it becomes more difficult to suffer than to change... you will change.
                                         Robert Anthony

Sikh and Hindu wedding

What an neat experience to witness this. There are so many wonderful cultures with such amazing traditions that are out there.

I shot an Indian wedding today and I had no idea what to expect. It was beautiful. The flame ceremony, the candle dance, the circling of the altar, the seven steps, it was amazing to witness.

Wedding after wedding that I shoot,
it seems the actual wedding ceremony is becoming less and less respected and more about lights, cues, and rushing through to get to the booze and the party. Are these brides and grooms really understanding what they are vowing to each other. When hard times come, do they remember those words they said that day?

The Hindu ceremony was beautiful. There was so much talk about kindness, respect, the joining of families, walking the steps of life together, etc. They even symbolically walked seven steps forward together, and as they took each step forward together they made another promise to one another to forgive, to love, to lift up, to trust, etc. I hope they will remember what love was in that room today.

And oh my, is an Indian wedding reception wild.

Inspiration

I am listening to this book.  The author has a similar story and amazes me at what she accomplishes.

I am hearing this man's story.  Competing in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin was easy as pie compared to what would happen next.





I am in love with this picture of him.  95 and still so happy to be alive.

My goodness, if he can get through what he did, I can too.

“We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.” – Winston Churchill

Most people would rather be certain they're miserable, than risk being happy.
                          -robert anthony