Winter approaches

Winter approaches, and with it comes a season of change. The leaves start to turn into their autumn colors, floating softly to the ground as they die off, winter harvests of squash and pumpkins fill the fields, children bundled in their winter coats and knit caps, hurrying home after school. I love this time of the year. I love the grey skies and the cloudy days. This is why I made my home in the Pacific North West. Most people are sun lovers, my husband included. But I grew up in the southern states, and winters are still new to me. I still approach winter with wonder. I love seeing the leaves change to orange, red and yellow. I love all the rain, even the days-on-end rain we get here in Vancouver. And I love the snow. Snow, who could have known it would be like that? I’m sure some of you will laugh, as many of my friends do now. But when it starts to fall, I run outside and stand in it, looking up, watching the flakes softly float down to Earth, feeling as if I am dancing in a snowglobe that has just been shook. The thought of making a snowman thrills me, and I prepare weeks ahead of time, gathering branches that might look good as arms and hands, planning out how I will position them, wishing I had as much snow as Calvin did in the old Calvin and Hobbes comic strip.

Living here, I have approached imagination and wonder again. I allow myself to dance in the fallen leaves, to play in the snow, to fly a kite. I have regained my curiosity, and am willing to make up a story about how a shoe got into the middle of the road, instead of passing it by with a glance. I am perfectly willing to eat ice cream for dinner, and have the audacity to stay up until four am, laughing with my friends. Robert shares this with me now, instead of fighting it. He says I’m truly a five year old at heart, and I embrace that. Being able to allow my child out has allowed him to do the same, and with it, our work gets more and more intense.

We are getting busy as the holidays approach. Families are getting together, and memories are being made. We are happy to be a part of this, capturing friendships and love in pictures. We are traveling to the Seattle area the first weekend in December for a commercial shoot, and have a few time slots available for individual portrait work. Any interest should be directed to RGebbiePhotography@yahoo.com.