This is my brother’s beautiful wife. I genuinely mean that in every way possible. Beautiful on the outside (obviously), but gorgeous on the inside as well. Since I met Shannon back when she was dating my brother while we attended college up in Canada, she’s been a necessity I never knew I needed. Not only is she a great friend, but she’s an artist. And not just any artist, but an artist that – even though we differ greatly in our styles – totally understands my point of view and vice versa. She’s extremely talented. She can do anything creative and it turns out amazing. I often trust her to help me with my own creative ventures. That’s saying a lot, coming from a severe perfectionist. I can easily say that I wouldn’t be who I am or where I am without her.
It’s been a fun 10 years, to say the least. Thank you, sister.
My beautiful sister-in-law, Shannon, at the bunkers on the North side of the Golden Gate Bridge.
(This was a 4 hour shoot in the freezing cold and rain, mind you!)
Make up by Shaya Goldhaber
The Namesake
I watched the movie The Namesake the other night. It was a crazy reminder of how different cultures can be. The movie showed the contrast between the East Indian and American culture. Neither being better…just different. The main female character expressed her love for both countries for different reasons after spending half her life in each place. Ultimately though, she felt “free” in her homeland, India.
My dad grew up in India, and my mom in Africa (both children of missionaries overseas). I think they both moved back when they graduated high school and they met in college. So much happened in my life before I graduated high school! I’ve heard their stories, but I’ll never fully grasp how they experienced their lives before moving here.
Left – Dad (far right), siblings, & friends on the train to boarding school in India.
Right – Mom (middle) & boarding school classmates in Africa.
When I was born, my parents were on deputation, raising money to be missionaries in India. The organization they were with put them in the inner city of San Francisco, CA instead, “temporarily”. Well, that turned out to be a few years in SF running a community center for children, and about 15 more years in Oakland, CA where they ran a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center and shelter for the homeless. That is my childhood. I believe I am very lucky for having experienced the reality of the inner city. But what if we DID go to India? My life would be so drastically different. Who would I be? Would I have a better understanding of life, being raised in a third world country? Or has living here in California given me a clear understanding of life? I have no answer to these questions.
Places I need to visit: India & Africa.
I think going to these countries would help me to have a better connection to my parents and why they are who they are, and why I am who I am. My house has been decorated in African and Indian artifacts, fabrics, and photos my entire life, and still I don’t know the feeling of BEING there. I’m ready to go.
