Admiration

Subject: well wishes (mid 2013)

Hello Shirley,

We've never met but somehow I feel I know you - just a little, through your wonderful photography. I've been wanting to email you for ages ( I don't do face book, twitter, blogging etc) - to tell you how much joy your photos give and how much I admire your work.  Your site is one of my 'top sites' and unless we're away, I enjoying checking for new pictures almost every day.  You were pretty quiet for a while, so I was of course surprised, shocked and saddened to read the news of your illness, the way you've been treated and the challenges you've faced over the last year.  So....I'm finally sitting down to write this. 

I was introduced to you through my daughter who moved to Ottawa with her fiance, her kitten and her black lab in the late summer of 2010.  A phone call from her... "mom, check out this site and you'll see a picture of Leroy at the dog park". That was December 2010 - and my daughter Emily told me about how you came to the park, hung your backpack in a tree and starting taking pictures of all the dogs.  This dog park was behind Maxwell's (where Emily worked as a server while they lived in Ottawa) and many more photos appeared of dogs that she could name.

Well, I've followed you through all your photo shoots with moms & babes, young families, active kids, older people, weddings, cottage pix, your temporary relocate and reno, as well as the gorgeous work you do for Delilah. I so enjoyed the shots on the streets of Ottawa. They tell with poignancy and humor, the stories of ordinary people and places. There were gorgeous photos of Kate & Will, as well as very special moments of Remembrance Day. You have such an 'eye' and a gift for capturing the moment. Your nature photos are outstanding - snow, water, seasons, mist, drops of dew, flowers and the owls - I loved.  Your fondness for horses and cats is evident, but most of all your love of dogs - especially Tika and Sam shines through.  How lucky are they to have you!

Emily's fiancé finished his PHD, they married and now live in Cleveland. I encouraged her to contact you for their wedding photos, but as we are in Brampton (where they were married), and there were many long distance plans being made from different parts of the country, they opted for someone local they knew - too bad!

Although Brampton is closer than Cuba!!  There is a photo in your archives 'dogs in cars' from Sept. 9, 2011 - that's my Emily and Leroy in her white pickup.

As I dabble with my 'point and shoot', trying to incorporate some of the interesting perspectives you use - (although not very successfully), you've opened my eyes to seeing what's out there in a different way - it's fun.  Thanks for all this, and for yesterday's splash of colour and hint of spring.

Cheers to Dan, and to his mom - she can come to my house and make perogies anytime.  What a great sequence for a cooking class! 

It's good to see you posting - old and new.  Don't stop....

Sorry this is so long winded, but I just want to wish you well, good luck with the challenges ahead of you, and send you positive energy for strength and healing.

Sincerely,

~Chris~