AMANDALA!

So I've realized how much I really miss getting out and doing photography lately.  I'm funny about my photography, like so many people are about their art, and I love to do it but am so hesitant to share it.  Or when I am not hesitant to share it, I'm so hesitant to take any kind of money or payment for my work.  For me, once a person gives me money my joy, passion, hobby then turns into work, pressure, chance of failure.   Anyway, the whole reason I'm writing this is because my friend, Karlie came up with this awesome photography project idea to do with my cousin and I.  It's 30 weeks (because I just couldn't do one a day) of photography project assignments.  I love this!  It gets me thinking creatively, it gives me a reason to go out and do it, it gives me the joy in sharing what I love!  So we're off to be inspired and creative!

That seemed like the end right?  Wrong.   The cousin who will be doing this with me is Amanda.  Amanda, is having a birthday this week.  So now we will talk about her.

Amanda is not your typical cousin.  See, Amanda and I grew up a little more like sisters.  We grew up across the street from each other and saw each other EVERY day.  For most little girl cousins this would be a dream come true.  Once we started having stuff in common it was!  It was a little iffy there in the beginning when Amanda wanted to play Barbies and I was popping their heads off... Nichelle and her can share in their supposed "trauma" of ruined dolls, but I digress... we did everything together.  We rode bikes, we had secret codes, stories, adventures... we got to share in the world of imagination all growing up, and it was awesome.  The stories the Horner cousins get to share are hilarious and numerous and usually ridiculous.  The story Amanda tells the most is when I decided on May day to roam around the neighborhood, knocking on peoples doors and wishing them a happy May Day!  I was such a nice kid.  The problem with this plan that Amanda saw was that one, we were handing the neighbors flowers that I picked from their own yards, and two, we didn't tell our parents and were getting further and further from home.  I assured her we were fine and when our parents pulled up in the car screaming/yelling and so forth I was quick to admit my wrong.  I apologized with a paper towel full of chocolate chips.  To this day, I think Amanda still expects chocolate chips on May day. 

The story I prefer about Amanda is when we were riding bikes and I crashed face first into a tree.  I made my lip bleed and was obviously too traumatized to push my bike home, so Amanda pushed both of our bikes home while I walked myself crying the whole way.  The reason I prefer this story is because to this day, Amanda does whatever it takes, even if that means taking twice the load if necessary to do what she can for those she loves.  It's almost ridiculous how much she is ALWAYS thinking of others.... but mostly inspiring. 

So Happy Birthday Amanda, I love you, and thanks for pushing my bike when I crashed after turning around to stick my tongue out at you.  That was pretty great.