Nostalgia for love
My husband is a romantic, but he married a super practical-love-you-to-death-kinda-girl, -but-don’t-always-have-to-show-it. It’s how I was raised, and as much as I love to see love, I have not always been Ms. Affectionate. (That’s right, it’s Ms. not Mrs.– but that is entirely a whole different post)… Let me explain, I’m a feminist, and I love the use of Ms because I am not owned, as the original Mrs. suggest- but that’s my bag, baby.
I think he’s going to kill me for writing this, but I think that if he could photograph “Engagement Sessions” every day, he probably would. There is something SO romantic (yes, even for me), sweet, REAL, and natural about these couples in that state of ecstasy– when love is full of potential, not too much of the resentment, and not quite knee deep in working out your childhood traumas (and head case sttuuuffff)–you know, all the growing old kinda stuff.
So, I’m feeling a little nostalgic for that fairy-tale & urban style with a side of oysters. What??? Glen posted two couples he photographed earlier this month, and you know, I see why he loves these shoots… I think it may remind him of who he & I are at the core.
Yes, we have our own business, we have two maddening children (and utterly cute & delightful, mind you), and we try to keep our house clean (yes, photogs who walk in @3pm in our home with a kitchen full of breakfast dishes- we try!) Our life is crazy, we fight, we make up, we then travel because that is OUR WAY of getting out of our rut and remembering who we are.
Ok, this is starting to sound way too familiar… like 2 summers ago when we started our crazy drive to Central America. The only difference is that when a mom at school confesses to me how she does not feel close to her husband because he has a separate life than her & the children, I cannot relate. Yes, I deal with the girls a lot more, and yes, my husband works like a mad man, but I do not feel disconnected from him. Not now.
I look forward to our time in India for many, many reasons, but the No.1 is that we get to remember us.
Here are the couples that inspire us to remember love…
- Ok, we never had THIS moment, but Glen is quite the charmer.
- Life & people pass by & they are in their own world… yeah, I know the feeling.
- We used to eat oh, sooo many oysters when we dated! (oh, no, we won’t be eating those in
- India–I’m even scared in Venezuela to eat oysters, never mind India.)
- And this is who we are, photo taken by Sarada (4yrs old–camera
- definitely weighs more than she does)
Tags: engagement sessions, inspired marriage, marriage, romance
November 13th, 2009 at 10:14 pm
If you guys ever get out to the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State, you have to come see us! Love the photography, love the philosophy, love you guys!
November 15th, 2009 at 9:20 pm
For those who need the explanation…
Modern use of Ms. as an honorific was conceived in 1961 by Sheila Michaels, thinking it was a typographical error. Michaels, who was illegitimate, and not adopted by her stepfather, had long grappled with finding a title that reflected her situation: not being “owned” by a father and not wishing to be “owned” by a husband. Her efforts to promote its use were ignored in the nascent Women’s Movement. Around 1971, during a lull in an interview with “The Feminists” group, Michaels suggested the use of the title “Ms.” (having chosen a pronunciation current for both in Missouri, her home)
November 15th, 2009 at 9:21 pm
Thanks Robert!
November 21st, 2009 at 5:16 pm
Dear Asha and Glen,
I have been married and divorced three times and I honor and respect and am grateful for each marriage and divorce. I am not rercommending it! I think one marriage is the perfect number if at all possible and love is understood and allowed to guide. I am proud of you! I adore that photo Sarada took of you two!
I think loving someone (other than my children - whom I cannot help but love) is partly a choice. Today I feel I love Paul more than before. He is fun, steadfast and generous. My prayer before meeting him for a get-together is: “Dear Mother of us all, bless my union with Paul.”
When in Japan two summers ago with my daughter, a fellow did some characters in ink on paper. I asked for the translation. He said, “Treat every meeting as a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
Bon Voyage!!
Deborah