Let me start by saying that I am not a writer. I am a photographer, a wife, a mother, a former server & bartender. Last night I commented on a friends Instagram post. It was just a photo of a little girl in Disney World, riding a ride, her hands up in excitement and wearing a princess costume. The caption asked us what we can’t wait to do once this is all over. I commented, “I can’t wait to ride rides again.” After I posted that comment, those simple words really stuck with me. That image of an innocent child on a ride stuck with me. When will we ride the rides again? A few weeks ago, we would never even question such a thing. Now, we don’t want to touch anything that is out in the public.

In these unprecedented times, we all have so much more time to think about the things we can’t wait to do when the pandemic is over. So many people on social media asking what the first thing you’ll do it. So many different answers: go out to eat(if we can afford it), go to the mall, go to Disney World. So many simple answers: hug my senior mom, walk around the store unafraid, allow my kids to go hang out with their friends again. It took a global pandemic for most of us to appreciate the simple things in life again.

I am a wedding and portrait photographer. I am having to reschedule so many photo sessions, and even more importantly, weddings. Can you imagine having to reschedule your wedding day? Well, it’s happening, and my couples are being amazing about it. Spring Saturday weddings are now Friday and Sunday summer and fall weddings. We are all making sacrifices. But, we are all in this together. The colors may not be in season, and the dates engraved on the rings won’t be right, but what a story to tell the grandkids one day! We will have weddings again, and what a celebration they will be!!

I know it is easy to get sucked in to the doom and gloom, and all of the things that are not fair and won’t happen and that were canceled. Believe me, I know. My daughter did fundraisers for two years to help pay for her Disney World trip. It was canceled just 8 days before they were supposed to go. She will most likely finish her sophomore year of high school from home, online. She could not take her drivers education class this month, so won’t be getting her license when she turns 16. She will most likely spend her Sweet 16th birthday at home, with no real party or friends, as it is in a few weeks. Even with all of the sadness, the unfairness, we have to appreciate what we have and what we will have again. Hold on to hope.

Take a minute and think of all of things we can’t do now, but we will do again. My hope is that this global event will make us all better, stronger, and more appreciative. We have to stay positive, we have to fight this together. We all have to do our part. I joke that by the time this is over I will be a master chef, baker, and a whiz at Photoshop(I always edit in Lightroom). Now, I may not come out a master at anything, but I will have fun trying. This event has the world slowing down, and maybe that is what we needed. Every day I am baking and cooking new things with my daughter. I started a puzzle, I can’t remember the last time I even did a puzzle! I am playing games with my family almost every night. We are finding joy in the little things. We are building an even stronger family.

Now, here are some photos of things that I can’t wait to see again. Some are cell phone photos. Should a portrait photographer be uploading cell phone photos? Well, we are in a global crises, so why the hell not?! I would love to see some comments on what you can’t wait to see again! Would love to see comments about what you are up to at home!! We will hug our friends and family again, we will go to the mall again, we will have weddings again, and we will ride rides again!! Also, let’s keep those on the front lines in our thoughts and prayers!! Thank you to all of the doctors, nurses, first responders, truck drivers, and grocery store employees!! You are all the real MVPs!!!