Happy New Years

A group of people. A decorated room, filled with balloons and lights. It's obviously a party. A New Year's Eve party.

New Year's Eve 1999/2000. The beginning of a new Millenium. Sort of, the exact math confuses me, so I'm just going to go with the fact that was the night everyone was celebrating.

Because of that, it was a night for really big parties. Such as the one that this picture was taken at.

I'm the one in the blue sweater, in the center of the picture, and it's my dad that I'm talking to.

I didn't want to go to that party. In fact, my parents had to drag me, but in the end that might have been the best New Year's Eve I've ever had.

I was 16 then and 16 was not a good year for me. I had taken a leave of absence from school, I was going through a lot of emotional drama and I was not an easy person to live with.

I also had no real desire to spend a night in the company of a whole bunch of people. Espeically since a lot of people had been on my back about being out of school. I acutally planned on spending the night home alone, watching TV and playing on my computer. No such luck.

My parents told me in no uncertain terms that they weren't leaving me alone on New Years and since they didn't intend to stay home, that meant I was going with them--much to my displeasure.

Since I had to go to the party, my intent was to sit in the living room and watch TV. The party was being held partially in the shed outside and partially in the basement. That resolve lasted ten minutes before the host's son dragged me downstairs, since that where his friends were. The older people were in the shed.

I ended up having an amazing time. It was just one of those really fun evenings. I think everybody had a great time. At Midnight, we all ended up in the shed for the countdown, which is when this picture was taken.

For a party I didn't even want to go to, I ended up having such a great time.

November 2002

I love this picture. It's just a silly moment that happened to be captured by the camera. Me laying on my friends floor because I was too lazy to move.

One of the things that makes it special to me is that 2002 was an interesting year and that those two months were particularly interesting. Also particularly stressful. There was a lot stuff going on and this picture was taken near the end of that.

It was a weekend where I was treading a knife's edge the whole time, so this momnet of complete relaxation is nice. Probably the only one taken all weekend.

Also, it's just a really great picture.

Daddy's Little Girl

This picture is almost as old I am. A week younger actually. Of all the pictures taken of me in my life, this might be my favourite.

August 1983. A proud father holding his newborn daughter the day he brings her home from the hospital. The love and pride he has for her shine from his face as she sleeps trustingly in his arm.

That one moment sets up the next 20 years. A close, loving relationship will form. A father who spoils his only child rotten and totally dotes on her. A daughter who adores her father--a definite Daddy's girl.

My father's gone now. But he left me with 20 years of wonderful memories and everytime I look at this picture I just remember how much he loved me from the very beginning.