Clickbait aside, I really do have some strong thoughts about these last few photos of 2017. Please forgive me while I wax poetic for a little bit. 

I'm pretty lucky, all things considered, to be able to have made it this long and still have all four of my grandparents still alive and in mostly good health– (as far as I know anyway).
They have been around for my entire life to this point, and aside from a few minor complaints–

(we don't see eye to eye about politics, I'm probably not getting married anytime soon, certainly not having any children, and sometimes I only need to eat one plate of food instead of an entire stove's worth)

they have always been there to learn from and to love. 

So where did all this come from? Strap in, this is gonna get a little dark.

Earlier this year there was a death in my extended family, and although we weren't very close it still hit a little closer to home than I would have liked it to. I looked at the social media feeds of my grandparents– (they SOMETIMES use facebook to...I dunno...look at old people memes or something) and came to the realization one day they will die.

(That realization came to me a while back, but just bear with me...I tend not to think about the death of my loved ones on a regular basis).

When that time came, it would be up to Myself or another member of my family to find a photo of them for a memorial service of some sort. And very quickly we would find that the photos that existed were either very old or taken with some sort of smartphone with the resolution somewhere between a potato and an iPhone 5. And to be honest, I just couldn't let my loved ones have to be remembered that way. So I made it a point while I was home for the holidays this year to sit everyone down for a formal portrait session. 

I got about 5 or so minutes each before everyone got a little antsy, but I'm fairly happy with the results none the less:

James "Jimmy" (Paw-Paw) Griffin

Gladys "Granny Grump/Nana" Griffin

Lula "Granny Lu Lu" Wilkerson

Olin "Papa Charlie" Wilkerson

If you ever wondered what I am going to look like in 40 years, here is a pretty good idea. With each passing day I see more and more of these four people every time I look in the mirror.

I wish they could be around forever, but at least I have a record of how they will always be remembered by me. 

Is it a little dusty in here for anyone else? Or is it just me?

On a happier note, I would just like to wish everyone a Happy New Year in the next few days. 2017 has been an interesting one in many ways, and I want to thank all of you from the bottom of my heart for your support.

I may be consistently tired, I may be a little grumpy sometimes, but I always enjoy my time spent behind the camera. Whether you are my subject or just a follower on this journey. My best wishes are to you and yours in the coming year. 

See you all on the other side.

-B