It's amazing how quickly things happen.
Seems like just yesterday, it was a blazin' hot July day that Candace Allen and her folks went through this process with me three years ago.
I was going on and on then about how it was so different that for the first time that one of my original grade school classmates was bringing me a senior for their session. It was surreal to be sure.
At the time, I jokingly quipped that if I did a good enough job for them, that they'd hopefully be back in three years with little sis.
Guess what? The Allen's musta jumped into Marty McFly's Delorean and punched in July 15, 2014... because faster than you can say 1.21 gigawatts, baby girl number two was at my door... Ashley
It was fitting because I was JUST telling a couple of East Marshall mom's recently that were asking me about how very different this class had to feel for me with it including my daugher. And while that's already been mentioned in this blog space several times already this summer, I also pointed out that I had already gotten softened up a bit to the emotional reality that this year was going to be... and it all really started three years ago with the Allen's.
You see, when you spend the majority of your entire education with around twenty students at a very small school... you can't help but get to know them. So when Mama Connie brought Candace to our studio three years ago... it was a watershed moment for us. A precursor. The calm before the storm.
Well, as far as storms go... I'll take this one any day of the week... but make no mistake... the windstorm of East Marshall girls that I've watched grow up from the time they were making Mary Dannen pull her hair out in preschool is here... and they're coming in rapid fire fashion over the next several weeks.
So, I knew exactly what I was getting into with Allen Daughter No. 2, but the timing of her session couldn't be much better.
Less than 12 hours off of an 11-4, Class 3A Regional Softball championship victory over New Hampton that sent her team to the state tournament for the third time in three years in strutted your NICL West first team all conference catcher, and her super proud mom... beaming ear to ear.
Who could blame them? Times like these are rare indeed, and if they wanted to bask in the warm glow of victory for a while... they were in the right place... because, not surprisingly... we talked, rehashed... broke it down to levels beyond scientific... and then broke it down some more.
I'm not sure if THEY were more excited... or maybe if it was their PHOTOGRAPHER?? :)
I joke a bit, but perhaps there's some truth hidden in there... and it makes some sense for the girl that most of us just call Ash. From her freshman year on... she's been put in big spots in everything she does. Missy Pieters knows what a rock solid floor game Ashley has on the hardcourt, Jodi Hinegardner leans heavily on her for volleyball... in her spare time, she's gutting it out for Trent Taylor and the Mustang tracksters, and obviously Jary Hoskey has known what a gem he's had for many years already on the dirt diamond. And even as tough as the girl is (gang... it takes a 100 % bad a$$ to catch as many innings as this girl does) she had a hard time NOT smiling when I needed her to put on her game face. How can you not love a girl like that?
So, I've been witness a myriad of times to Miss Allen's prowess in the athletic realm over the years... and while we had to document that huge part of her life for sure, it was also fun to see her put away her tom-boy hat for a day and give her best shot at rockin' the Rocks, high heels and yes... even a cute lacy dress! But let's not get crazy... she wasn't tip-toein through a field with wildflowers... she threw on some killer boots and had Papa Scott bust out the John Deere to go with that dress!
We were all over God's green Earth on Tuesday. For those of you that don't know... the Allen's live about as far away from LeGrand as one can be, and still be in the East Marshall School District. We're talking like halfway to Des Moines... Ok... maybe not, but it's Baxter-esque for sure!
Anyway, I ran the girls through a ton of images here at the studio... then off to get the lace/boots/tractor and then FINALLY... many hours later, we landed in Ashley's comfort zone.
One more time she strapped on the shin guards and threw on the chest protector... grabbed that sweaty mask and mitt and just like sliding on old pair of comfortable jeans, all seemed right with the world.
Early afternoon had slid into darkness by the time the Allen girls left me that night. Ashley was probably so hungry that chewing on her rocket right arm was being highly considered. I hope she refrained however. The girls have a state championship to go win next week... starting Monday. And even though the schedule won't allow me to be there, the girls know where their photographer's heart is at. Right there with them.
Make us proud... like from the time you've been little kids... you've always done.
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