Mrs. Glad

Just around the corner from where I live is the house my Grandma and Grandpa used to own, which my parents now own and where I grew up. Two houses down from there live the coolest neighbors that anyone could ask for, The Glads. Mr and Mrs Glad have lived a life of service for as long as I could remember. They were dear friends with my grandparents before they passed away. They visited regularly to our house and lent a hand whenever we were in need. They make everyone feel welcome and have a genuine sincere love for all they meet. Every year for Easter they would hold a neighborhood easter egg hunt and then have a nice Easter lunch for all to share. I really can’t think of anyone nicer than the Glads. Even their children and grandchildren all have hearts of gold.

I have enjoyed being their neighbor and you can imagine how heartbroken I was when I heard that Mrs Glad has an aggressive form of cancer and doesn’t have long to live. It just didn’t seem real to me that something so horrible could happen to someone so awesome. Not too long ago I lost my grandpa to whom I was very very close. He was an instrumental part of my life and there’s not a day that goes by when I don’t think about him. Then within a year my grandma passed on too. I miss them, they are a huge part of who I am today, and looking back on pictures of them, I am reminded of feelings and moments that I had in their living years. That’s one of my favorite parts of photography is the ability a picture has to bring back moments that we often forget and feelings that we hold so dear for those we love.

Knowing how important pictures of my grandma and grandpa were to me, I wanted to in some way offer the Glad family a chance to have some professional pictures of Mrs Glad to remember her in her last moments on Earth. I was a little hesitant to approach them because I didn’t want my gift to be offensive, I mean how can you expect everyone to stand in front of the camera and smile knowing that their most dear grandmother, mother, and wife would no longer be here. I was so scared to ask if they wanted me to come and take some pictures together as a family. I personally would love for that chance but didn’t know if they would feel the same.

Luckily they were going to take some pictures anyways and were grateful that I wanted to do some pictures for them as well. Being that this was the first time I have shot in a situation like this, I was a little nervous that things would be akward, but the Glad family is such a hilarious and such a tight knit family that we were joking and laughing throughout the pictures. I held it together through most of the groupings until I asked to do some shots of Mr and Mrs Glad alone. They have been married forever and how hard it would be to know your life long love will soon be gone. As I shot the two of them, I thought of my wife Tiffany and how she is my everything, how she completes me and gives my life meaning. I don’t ever want to have to say goodbye to her and hope that I am the one to go first. I cried as Mr Glad reached down to give his love a kiss on the forehead. You could feel the love that he has for her and just feel such a deep connection between them.  After the session we were just sitting around socializing and I watched Mr Glad feed Mrs Glad.  I just think it is so beautiful the love they have and the family they have raised and the neighbors they have touched.  I pray that Mrs Glads last moments here may be peaceful and filled with love.  May her family feel comfort and peace.

Thank you so much Glad family for allowing me into your home and allowing me to capture Mrs Glad as I will always remember her.