I’m paraphrasing here, but when I asked about a beautifully scribed tattoo on her wrist, Ashley responded “It’s a very long story, but basically it means I’ve been through a lot in life and I still want to keep doing it”. And that is exactly why I tracked these two down and had to photograph them.
It’s sort of an odd story. I was perusing blogs, falling down the black hole of internet reading and time wasting, when I came across On a Bicycle Built for Two. I was charmed. It was an important blog. One that focuses on lesbian weddings, because as I’ve heard time and time again same-sex couples are often made to feel marginalized, weird and sadly unwelcome in the wedding industry.
And then I read Emily & Ashley’s story. I was struck. By their bravery. By how they turned something that could be so negative and painful, into a beautiful thing. And since I’m a little nuts, I threw out an offer to track them down the next time I made it to Massachusetts and photograph them. Because I feel, and this is hard to explain, that if we aren’t kind when we can be and we don’t extend ourselves to others in the world when we’re compelled… well then what’s the point of the human experience? And to be entirely truthful I wanted to meet these two women, look them in the eye and tell them, “You’re not alone. People support you.” And why not offer my talents too?
After a couple of misses, we finally worked things out, and while I was not able to give them the pregnancy photos they had hoped for, I did get to meet the new love of their lives, Galileo, born 9/2/11.
I’m so glad I had this experience. I found out Ashley and Emily are brave in so many ways. They are kind despite the ways they’ve been treated. They are hopeful despite the adversity they’ve faced. And they are filled with love. For one another. For little Galileo. For learning new things. And for the future.
Thank you, Ashley & Emily, for bringing me inspiration and sharing a bit of your lives with me and my Aunt.
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