09 August 2010

August 9, 1994

Yes, I meant to put that date in the title of the post.  I did it because it's a weird day.  It was a weird day.  And it comes around every year.  Some years it hits me on August 9.  Some years it hits me on a day that's on the opposite side of the calendar.  But, this year it's hitting today.

On August 9, 1994, my dad suddenly passed away.  A few years ago, I wrote a post called Half of My Life Ago that still brings tears to my eyes, but I would be honored if you would read it again.  It would explain where I'm coming from and where God has brought me and why I'm even writing this post.

Being a wedding photographer reminds me of what happened more often than not.  I still remember the night my dad died going into my mom's bathroom as she was getting ready for bed and asking her, at my young age of 14, who was going to give me away on my wedding day.  It's every little girl's dream to put on the white dress and walk arm in arm with her daddy down the aisle toward her soon-to-be-husband.

And while I won't have that moment with my dad, I am always SO honored to be a part of that moment with other girls and their dads.  The proud look in his eye and the thankful look in hers as the doors open at the back of the church would melt anyone's heart, including mine!  It's so sweet and so precious... and I get to capture that in a photograph.  And I'm so appreciative.

I don't know who will walk me down the aisle when my wedding day arrives.  Shoot, I don't even know yet who I'll be walking down the aisle toward!  What I do know, and am super grateful for, is each of the men who have been like a dad to me over the years.  And I would bet that any of them would be honored to walk me down that aisle :-)

 Michael G. Lewis
Feb 12, 1949 - Aug 9, 1994

3 comments:

Nelly Kane-Macias, SPHR said...

I'll say a special prayer for you and your Dad's soul today. God bless...

Carmen said...

Wow...I had never read that. You are such a great writer and I am so thankful that you share your personal experiences with us.
You are a strong person and I admire you for being YOU!
Love ya! Carmen

Ramona Grant Lewis said...

Sabrina, words can not express the emotions running through my being at this moment after reading your blog. This day is forever imbedded in my memory too and in many ways it seems just as unreal today as it did 16 years ago. This I know, your Daddy loved you beyond description and was so proud of you. You have proven his faith in you was well placed. Your Uncle Rod wept when he read this and saw Mike's picture. Thanks for sharing.

I'm a Greenville, SC based wedding and portrait destination photographer who loves to be behind the lens. I look forward to hearing what you think about the posts and images as I work with amazing people to capture life and give them images they love.
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