Tomme Hilton Gallery » Charleston SC Wedding Photographer and the life that shadows.

I’ve finally gotten my hosting company to be compliant and allow me to once again, load photos and POST! So, I will get back on track with posting.

It’s Labor Day weekend and we’ve come to Myrtle Beach to see Jim’s family. It’s pretty much tradition that we go to lunch with Gram one day during our visit. We try to come up every Labor Day. She is 94 still driving,  still sharp as a tack, actually much sharper even than mine.  We couldn’t decide on lunch. So many choices, so many different taste palates. Some of us were in the market for Sushi and others not. It took us about an hour to finally conclude our lunch plans. We FINALLY decided on Carraba’s, I had my cappuccino and Gram decided to try one for the first time. It was hard to believe there were many ‘firsts’  left for her.  She said she actually enjoyed it and will be trying to make them at home sometime, she didn’t think the process would be “”too difficult”". I think we did so much talking that she barely got to eat her spaghetti.  You know how many times your family members {{TRY}} to hold conversation and you have several things going through your mind that you are half listening? Admit it. You’ve done it. Well, that was me in the past – so many things on my to -do- list. So many thoughts on a unrestricted path floating through my mind. What made this particular occasion special? This lunch outing it was JUST us girls. My SIL and our daughters. It was quiet and dark and we had TIME to sit and listen without interruption. This | UNUSUAL |.  I finally, without the clutter of children and husbands and life in general started listening to the history of her life. It filled me with such amazement, for one..  after being married to Jim for 15 years I’m JUST now listening to the stories of her life. How wildly selfish not to have made the time to absorb such a fond vivid history within my own family. That was my own disappointment that at 94, I’m just hearing some of these things. And two, just to listen to her recount the moments of her life with THAT gleam in her eye. She instantly transformed into the young girl that sprained her ankle to win the attention of her husband right before WWII, how hard it was to raise her son alone during that time. Tom, her son was 2 yrs old before her husband had even seen the son he created.  I couldn’t imagine her life. She was blessed in so many ways yet cursed in so many others. She came from a wonderful family that had been well off, and had much support of those who loved her. But then there was the pain of a troubled marriage that forever loomed. Lies and heartache accompanied the man she adored. Her husband’s brother, many years after the divorce revealed to her that he her husband had never loved her. How difficult would that be to hear?  Anyone that has ever trusted and gave their hearts away must have been crushed to hear those words. I began to feel connected to her in a way I had never allowed myself before, Actually never gave up the time to even hear it.  I saw her in a new light and I hope to allow myself to remember and carry on her stories.  I had always wondered where Jim got the gift of the story. Now, it’s completely apparent to me.  He can sit and tell a story like no one you will ever meet. He embellishes and elaborates anything even under normally boring circumstances. He will somehow make a story out of the MOST unfounded instances and  I generally know anywhere he goes, a story of his experience shall accompany.  ”Now, you would have known that just by going to Lowe’s to look for a bolt……” And I’m stuck head nodding and attempting to listen for about an hour over a 5 minute trip to the hardware story. Everyone knows when he starts this will be a long winded rendition of a very simple outing. But that IS one of the things I love about him. And one of the things I got to fall in love with Gram for.

And of course you prolly didn’t come to my blog for my gift of the story. I am not so gifted in the fine art. My mind works very black and white with words but the flower unfolds where photographs are concerned. I always wanted to write a book but I doubt I could ever see it to publishing.

Well, I’m going to post S.E.N.I.O.R pics today of Brad and Savanna, whom are dating and whom I shot simultaneously.  Brad reminded me of the ‘American Pie’ kid. Him and Savanna were goofy and I realized I liked shooting Seniors quite a bit. They were fun and young and youthful and I’ll be looking forward to more Senior sessions. Here’s some of their images.

The relevance of a memory is solidified in someone’s mind by a moment. By a photo. By a snapshot. I know it’s a hard stretch to pay for a photographer. But when it’s all said and done, no one ever regrets spending money on photographs they will love eternally. Peace Peeps! Have a Leisurely Labor Day!!