PETERSONS A LA ASH

Friends are a tough thing for me. I'm unusually particular when making them and stupidly noncommittal when keeping them. But I do have a few that honor me (honestly against their better judgement) by letting me call them friend for years.

Sometime last year I was sitting in Buffy's house--I don't remember exactly who was there or what we were doing--but I remember thinking how neat it is that my close high school friends have become who they are. They've cultivated unique talents and--I beg your forgiveness for using this word--blossomed into sparkling, spectacular, capable, and skilled women.

I recalled this thought when Ashley did the Peterson family photos a couple weeks ago. She is crazy talented. And she's my friend. Though we lost touch for years and live far from one another, I do know who she was ten+ years ago--which makes her skills and predilections that much more intriguing--and, for a reason I can't quite put my finger on, I feel entitled to be proud of her abilities. I am proud of my friend.

Well done, Ash. You did what you do: you captured my family.

(Sample photos stolen from Ashley without her permission; but I figured that since the post was about her mad skills, she'd give me a pass.)

If you've got the time on your hands and have some emotional investment in my people, I encourage you to visit Ashley's instaproofs site to peruse her cache of Petersons.