Orange County Event Photography, Corporate Branding Photos, Portraits and Weddings

‘We have chosen to be here. But you, family and friends, have not. You have been roped into the United States Marine Corps with no choice. But your support is a choice. And these men need it,’ said the commanding officer during his speech at the United States Marine Corps School of Infantry graduation ceremony at Camp Pendleton yesterday.

He went on to say how most of the young marines standing before us will be in combat soon. Their safety cannot be guaranteed. But marines take care of one another, and they will be taken care of, he promised. Taking care in Afghanistan is not the same as taking care here in Southern California, though.

The ceremony was less formal than the boot camp graduation at MCRC I attended a few months ago. The message though, was much more harsh.

I am proud of my cousin and the marines he stands tall beside. The service they’re providing is beyond admirable. But it was not easy hearing him say ‘I don’t know when I’ll see you again…’ as he hugged me goodbye.

Good luck, Lovato, Meredith, Pasillas and all of you marines. Peace, prayers and power be with you. Godspeed.

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“Reading is a means of thinking with another person’s mind; it forces you to stretch your own.” – Charles Scribner

I have always loved reading. When I was a kid, it was any fiction I could get my hands on. When I was in college, it was anything American Studies had to offer or anything else my professors didn’t assign. Now that I’m older and focused on building a business and a life for myself, the topics of my readings have changed dramatically. Now all this I-love-readingness isn’t to say that I read all the time. I go through spurts of non-reading. Just like my non-gyming spurts. Anyway, I’ll have to do a ‘Books I’ve Read and You Should too’ post one of these days…

Nowadays, I’m also an active blog reader. There is so much good content out there, some mediocre musings, but mainly, it’s a window into the ideas and experiences of other people. What a way to connect!

I read the quote above on a blog this morning and was inspired. Wanted to (hopefully) pass it on…

Although this commercial is several years old, I saw it for the first time the other day and was instantly moved. As the story unfolded and the tag line was presented, all my hairs were standing on end.

The images say ‘Keep me, protect me, share me…and I will live forever.’

I am so honored to be a part of the photography industry. What I do with my work, what you do with your fun times or travels or however you take your pictures…it’s really an amazing thing. Our moments, our memories…live forever in the images we create.

We hold eternity in our hands. That’s definitely something to keep, protect and share.

ps–fun side note: I used to work for Kodak when I was in college. Fun, one-hour-photo-get-me-thru-school-gig. Loved it!