You know that quote that floats all over social that goes something like “God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called” that is exactly what happened when my beautiful friend Sandra called and said, “hey, can you help me with something, it’s going to be difficult but I really need your help.” Sandra is just one of those people that I would move mountains for if she asked, she loves everyone unconditionally and with her whole being so naturally I said “of course what can I do.” Sandra’s best friend and cousin was diagnosed with terminal cancer and her plan was to spend whatever time they had left with him showing him just how much he was loved. By now you are wondering where I could possibly fit in during these precious moments, her ask was simple she wanted me to document each event that she hosted to create memories that would live on once he was gone. Even as I type this my eyes are filled with tears at the enormity of what I was being asked and a startling realization that I may not be good enough yet for this task. I was so nervous when I went to the first event I did not want to intrude or seem like a nuisance to the friends and family that had gathered. I hung back as much as possible and took as many photos as I could before asking people to pose in groups listed out for me by Sandra to ensure nobody was forgotten. The love and laughter in that room is nothing I will ever forget and it is in no way prepared me for the next event, a love parade to be held in surprise the next day. As a photographer clear eyes and sharp vision are necessary but the tears started with the parade and never stopped. Seeing so much love, hand-prepared signs, and the gorgeous warm smile on Eddie’s face did me in. To this day I am unsure how any of the photos even turned out, I guess I should say thank the lord I was still shooting in auto mode. Throughout the year we continued our mission of showing love and capturing photos. And with each event, I loved Eddie and his family more and more. To say this was the most humbling assignment I have ever had is quite possibly the understement of the year the love, caring, empathy, and understanding I saw within this family and their friends was like nothing I had ever witnessed. My last time with Eddie and his family was like watching a beautiful dance quietly choreographed and everyone knew their place. It was a family dinner complete with homemade pizza and basketball. As an outsider watching it was just incredible to see every need met without a word even being spoken the love was beyond apparent and though you may think there was not much to celebrate, they understood that each day was a precious gift and worthy of celebration. I can never thank Eddie and his family enough for allowing me to capture these precious moments but I think of them daily and I smile because they truly understood the meaning of life, to love and be loved in the simplest of terms and they model that daily. On my way home from that last dinner I felt content at how happy and relaxed everyone looked as I flipped on the radio to keep me alert one of my favorite Foo Fighters songs came on, These Days it was a reminder to live life like Eddie filled with love, adventure, parties, and an extra dirty martini.
