Here we are, already at the end of a year which feels as if it has hardly begun. Thank you all very much for your support and encouragement this year; I’m sorry I have not been as faithful a correspondent as I might have.

Here are twelve images from 2007: each one either carries particular significance for the month it was taken in or is simply a favorite of mine. Enjoy.

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

MARCH

APRIL

MAY

JUNE

JULY

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

2007 has been a great, full, and character-building year for me; I wish the same for you and yours in 2008. Happy new year.

Hello, old friends. It’s been too long. So long, in fact, that to be completely honest I feel terribly out of practice and have been stressing out a bit over what to post here first. So, to break the ice while I attempt to rediscover my blogging voice, here are some photos from this quarter:

(Click on each photo to see a description of it at Flickr.)

Yesterday evening, I worked my very last closing shift at my anonymous retail location. I helped my last customer, I made my last 10-minute announcement, I answered the phone one last time. And after three years, even though it was not always my favorite place to be, I can safely say that I will miss the place.

A large part of what made this job fulfilling (in addition to many great co-workers) was the fact that my brother worked there with me for my first two and a half years. Our time working together saw us develop a unique bond (at family gatherings, we never tired of swapping work stories), but it also saw Brian tirelessly chipping away at my immaturity with his constant encouragement to do a good job even when I didn’t want to. I really can’t thank him enough for taking the time to chide me when necessary; I truly believe I am more responsible because of his efforts.

So, why did I leave? The short answer is: it was time. It was time because I had worked there almost three years; it was time because I am moving back to school in just a few short weeks; it was time because my photography business is picking up and I intend to pursue it with all the gumption I can muster; it was time because I can’t do that and work at a store during the school year.

Oh yes, I really am going for “this photography business,” as I have taken to referring to it. It has been at the forefront of my mind through the entire summer, and lest you think I haven’t been taking pictures just because my Flickr stream has not been updated, I can assure you that I am sitting on all kinds of delightful photos that I can’t wait to share with you. Patience, friends. Patience.

But for the time being, I am editing like crazy and taking care of mundane (but kind of exciting) business details—and trying to absorb the fact that I am no longer “employed.” I’ve called life “an interesting ride” many a time, and it seems like the next year will not disappoint. Hold on tight.

(WARNING: This post contains a picture that might make you throw up a little bit in your mouth.)

… I will go the extra mile. I will throw myself into the effort of getting that perfect shot.

Sometimes more literally than others.

It’s funny how, when one is so focused on capturing the perfect shot of the bride and groom leaving the building, one can completely miss the existence of a step down from the sidewalk to the driveway.

It’s also funny how, when such a moment of neglect occurs, the sidewalk can decide to take a chunk out of one’s knee as a keepsake.

See? It’s pretty:

I’m sorry. I know you didn’t want to see that. But you know what? I didn’t really want to fall down those steps and rip my black pants that I payed $26.50 for at Old Navy. I know exactly how much I paid for them because the receipt for them is still sitting on my desk—because I bought them last week.

But, as I told all of the concerned onlookers at the time of the incident, at least my camera was fine. As long as my camera was alright, I was alright.

In case you haven’t been keeping track, I am developing quite a knack for falling down while carrying expensive equipment. And you’ll notice—none of the equipment has been damaged YET. So, to anyone out there who might have been thinking about lending me their expensive camera equipment: BE ENCOURAGED. I will die before it will.

But if you’re thinking about lending me pants? Um… Not so much.

P.S. I should mention the fact that this wound was acquired at the amazing Friday the 13th wedding of two dear acquaintances who are some of the most truly awesome people I know. So it was for a good cause.

Dear Boston: See these people?

You might recognize them. They flew in over your borders early Monday morning; I thought I should let you know that they’re going to be with you for a while.

That one on the right is my brother. He graduated from Gutenberg several years ago, and so did his wife; that’s her on the left. He always wanted to go to grad school, but he had a few things to do in the meantime. Now, though, he’s going for a PhD in Philosophy and an MA in Classics—which should set him up perfectly to come back and teach at Gutenberg. Which is great. The only catch is, he had to go to… well, to you to do it. And you are just a little farther away from Oregon than any five-year program which my brother is attending should be.

So take a good long look at them, because I have a very important job for you. I need you to take care of these two. I want you to make sure that they are fed, clothed, educated, encouraged—make them at home, but not too at home; comfortable, but not too comfortable. (After all, we do want them to make their way back over here at some point.) Make sure that Brian does well in school and that Melanie finds a job she likes—and make sure that they both can feel the motherly, fatherly, and sisterly love emanating from this little house on the other side of the country.

Oh, and, Boston? You just received a couple of first class folks. I hope you know that.

Sincerely,

Erin