Sometimes you meet someone and they just "blow you away" by their very presence. Its like you had a chair empty and you didn't even know it, until someone sat in it. When this happens to me I think perhaps that I have met an "earth angel." Its almost like fate or God or kismet or what ever your thoughts may be attracted to puts people in your path to shine a light. I think this happens to me so I can walk a little easier or breath a little deeper.
People think I know a lot of people and I probably do, but really I will never meet enough of them as long as I can meet people like "Debbie" along the way.
Debbie and I did a lifestyle mini photo shoot at her home a few weeks ago. I learned a lot during our shoot ... and not being the least of the topics was she is 70 years old! I know that's not old because my Aunt Letha Lee always told me (and I choose to believe her) that you don't start getting old til you're 75. So Debbie is the type of girl I want to be when I am 70.
She is vibrant, healthy, sweet, smart, giving and active.
She walks around her neighborhood, she eats right, she loves her family and friends and all of that was immediately noticed by me upon only knowing her for 5 whole minutes.
She welcomed me in her home and jumped into my heart without hesitation. She is a real estate agent , here in my county of Powhatan, VA. She didn't feel that she was "very photogenic" she told me on the phone..... I told her "everyone is photogenic" but I don't think she believed me.
I was FLOORED when I met her... she didn't look 70, just take one look at those LEGS and that FACE , those bright eyes and sharp mind mislead me to believing she was at least 10 years younger than she said. I thought I was completely floored as she walked with pep all around me but the icing on the cake is when I asked her to sit on her front stoop (not step but stoop) and went to help her back up and she didn't even notice , she jumped up like a jack in the box! I photograph people 30 years her junior that have trouble doing that!
So time went on and I photographed her more and more and learned more about this beautiful soul. She had not been healthy her entire life you see she is a 2x cancer survivor and other health issues have and continue to challenge this Warrior. Starting at age 27 and continuing to this day. My mouth was WIDE OPEN. I know too many that have walked her miles and even 1/2 of her miles and have had different results.
She works full time and takes care of other people all the time, this new friend of mine. She gives greats hugs too. She is redoing her paint now in her beautiful home , I don't think much grass grows under her feet but she was having her yard cleaned up when I was there and it was already clean to start with !
Life sometimes does you a favor and lets you meet someone like Debbie
National Woman's Day just passed and we a a nation I guess were supposed to celebrate the strong or special women that we know. I know a lot of them. I know many people , this is true, so I may know more than most. I am honored to honor and call friend so many special ladies..... and am especially honored to add this little fireball to the list.
If you are in Powhatan and haven't met or run into Miss Debbie so far on your journey, I hope you get the opportunity to in the future, I was missing out.
ISN'T SHE BEAUTIFUL ????? and she even agrees with me now , SHE, is photogenic!
