Happy Boo Year

Happy Boo Year!  Yes, it may be a reach, but I found a way to wear both of my Halloween sweaters well after their holiday appeal.  This was the second post planned for the ghostly sweaters that took three months to arrive and so they are far from relevant to any holidays including New Year's at the present time, but I'm making it work!  I waited three months for crying out loud, so it's happening.  You will also likely see both of these sweaters turn up again at Halloween but after waiting so long, I have no intention of waiting another ten months before these sweaters make their debut.

On the subject of getting spooked, my youngest daughter has been asking for my help lately.  She wants to enter a photography contest at her school and asked me to teach her what I know about photography.  I've assisted her in setting up a couple of photo shoots of our opossum and a still life scene or two, but I also thought it would be nice if she could work with me since I often need someone behind the camera, pushing the button for me.

This little graveyard is on the way to school, so I knew if we left early we wouldn't be late.  We arrived with plenty of time to take photos.  And yet, as soon as we pulled up, she seemed antsy.  I caught her looking over her shoulder more than once.

Every time a car approached she jumped and then panicked.  I knew she wasn't worried about ghosts, so I assumed she was worried about "getting in trouble for being in the cemetery.  When she grabbed the tripod and tried to dart to the wall to hide, I was getting a little frustrated I said, "Sweet heart, this is public land and we have a right to be here.  No one is going to yell at us."  

"Ugh!  I know," she said and rolled her eyes.  "Ok, then," I said, "focus please.  Literally, focus.  The last half dozen shots were blurry because you were looking over your shoulder."  We got a few nice shots before we heard the sound of another car and her eyes darted toward the road.  "Oh, no!  That's my friend!  She's going to see me!"

Ah ha, so that's what had my baby girl spooked.  Not spooks and specters, not even belligerent grounds keepers or random passersby.  Dear old mum might embarrass her.  Really?  Me?  Surely she must be mistaken.  Would I do something that would embarrass my sweet youngest child?

Yeah, that does sound like me.  I tried for so long not to embarrass the people I love.  I tried so hard and was so successful at it that I became invisible.  I became someone I didn't recognize and quite frankly didn't like.  I was this blank person who never spoke and had no opinions because God forbid I say something wrong.  And, as it turns out, not only did my loved ones make no attempt at reciprocating--they have publicly embarrassed me beyond anything my wildest stress dreams could conjure and I can only assume they did it because they didn't know how it felt--but I still somehow "embarrassed" them just by existing.  Try to Not embarrass a teenager and yours will be an exercise in futility.

Soooo, I decided to just be myself and they can deal with it.  I also decided to stop sparing their feelings and let them know, in no uncertain terms, when they have publicly humiliated me.  Let's face it, I haven't done anyone any favors by "being nice" in that respect.  If someone hurts you, you need to tell them especially if it's a repeat offense.  Maybe a little awareness and a little empathy after they've gone through it will help us understand and perhaps care for each other better.

In the mean time, Ima keep doin what I do.  I'm going to get these photos in the graveyard in my ghost sweaters with my daughter's help even if they do turn out crooked and slightly blurry.  I'm teaching her more than just photography tips out here and she's giving me a refresher course in patience.

So, if this first month of the new year is any indicator of how the rest of 2021 will be, then perhaps I can look forward to more photo sessions with my girl and maybe even a look back at the end of the year to see how she's improved.  There will definitely be more posts with this sweater on the way, probably not until autumn but you never know.

Shopping Info: Sweater from Aliexpress, Shorts from Forever 21, Tights and Headband from Shein