I Swear I loved my Mother In law. For real.

photography - Asa Mathat

I have a very, very special Mother in Law. While her body is no longer here, her indescribable spirit lingers in the hearts, minds, and souls of so many. Her impact was felt so deeply because being in her presence was like being enveloped in the sincerest and warmest of hugs. She was so lovely in character, so pure. She was a woman who was truly and completely without judgement of others. I think I know maybe two other people that fall into that too small category (I think I just made a judgement). She felt like a safety zone. I loved being around her. Everyone did. I'm forever grateful for having had her in my life. She was always on my side. She believed in me more than anyone. Any success I may ever have, I attribute to her acting as captain of my cheering squad. She died way too young. But it would never have been enough.  

Funerals usually frustrate me since so much of what's said at that time is often bullshit. Everyone becomes a hero after they're gone. But in her case, whatever is said in death would have been said in life. Very rare. I did this breast cancer awareness shoot in her memory, next to a flower garden I planted for her in our yard. It was part of Asa Mathat's Big Pink Ribbon project. My mother in law was very modest, this might have made her squirm a little. But she would never have said it, because she'd never get in the way of anyone else's dreams, and she would have supported me nonetheless. Because that's who she was.