Yesterday, on Thanksgiving day, I received a text from my dear friend, Carly.  It read, "I wanted to let you know that grandma Rosie passed away last night.  She died as gracefully as she lived, in her sleep without pain."  My breath caught in my throat.  I knew that Rosie meant the world to Carly.  When she talked about her grandma, I understood completely.  It was the same love I had for my own grandmother.  It's a sacred kind of love.  

A few weeks ago, I had the honor and privilege of photographing grandma Rosie on her 95th birthday, (SO amazing!!) along with Carly, Carly's mom, her husband, Peter, and their two adorable sons, Dylan and Henry.  ​In recent months, Rosie had struggled with remembering the faces of her Ones, but on this day, the second Carly and her family walked through the door, Rosie's face lit up.  If her mind couldn't remember their faces, her heart certainly did.  "Wonderful!  How wonderful!" she repeated, over and over again.  This was the kind of happy that is everything.  It's why we're here.  

​The rest of the visit was filled with I love yous and hugs and happy birthday songs.  It was a tremendous honor to meet Rosie on her special day and to document some serious love in this family.  Carly had told me how much she adored her grandma Rosie, what an incredible woman she was, and now I got it.  It also made so much sense to me, how Carly and her mom are both so dang AWESOME.

So this Thanksgiving, I'm raising my glass to moms and to grandmothers, and especially to Rosie.   How lucky am I, that I got to meet her?  I am so grateful.  Carly, I love you and am with you as you grieve this incredible loss.  

So much love,

Jaymee