soggy dog designs | for real life 2020 edition

Since July 25, 2019, one year ago from when I sat down to write this, life has thrown its share of curve-balls my way. Personal health challenges, family health challenges, mental health challenges, work challenges, the loss of my father, the loss of all normalcy in our worlds, the loss of my favorite camera, the loss of my family car (Bessie!), and the realization that from this point forward my life will never be as it was. I find myself increasingly responsible for those in my life, and increasingly grateful that I can be that person for them. I find myself simultaneously sad yet beholden, insecure yet confident, sloth-like yet motivated. I feel like I can roll with whatever this world throws at us, but sometimes I want to crawl into a hole and hide – or scoot up to another harbor to simply appreciate the peacefulness and beauty of the sunrise over an open sea.

In the big picture of life I know how fortunate I have been throughout my lifetime. I have always had a family that loves me as much as they drive me to insanity. I share lifelong friendships with humans of all races, genders, sexual preferences, political views, work ethics, and senses of humor. I have been able to create a career in a community that lets me play, lets me do what I love - to capture memories, to coach, to be a mentor for our youth, and to be my 'for real' self.