Lest you think I’m a diva — or that my office is in the Colorado wide open spaces — let me explain the above photo:
Where: Ute Park, about 10 minutes from my house
When: 8:30 AM on a cold, windy, ultimately rainy, Saturday morning in December 2012
Why: Authors need to update their pro photo every two to three years. (Awkward moment: Meeting an author you’ve only seen via a back cover photo and thinking, “Wow. He/She is really not in high school.”)
Who: Me, the kind of person who dodges cameras. LisaAnne Meeter, photographer extraordinaire. Kevin Meeter, the “brains” who constructed my outdoor office. My Colorado BFFs, Sonia Meeter & Shari Hamlin, who are there to ensure that I stay in front of the camera. And smile.
What happened:
Did I mention it was early?
Did I mention it was cold and windy and rainy?
Did I mention my BFFs helped me coordinate my outfits (and change in the back of Sonia’s van)?
That Sonia’s husband thought up the whole “outdoor office” concept and then stood behind the door and held it steady?
That whenever I froze and got that look on my face — the kind you don’t want for your pro photo — Sonia and Shari went into action and did silly, ridiculous things to make me laugh?
That yes, my BFFs were all about my hair — and really, I am so not about my hair. I’m a “scrunch and go” kind of gal. Not that day. My girlfriends were gonna make sure my hair looked good.
Laugh? Oh, yes, we laughed. The kind of laughter where Lisa had to wait, camera in hand, until we could stand back up and I could be a little more, um, professional.
Was it healing?
Yes, yes it was.
Because there have been times when I’ve looked in the mirror and seen anything but beauty staring back at me.
But that day — surrounded by my friends and the music of our laughter woven together into a splendid kind of music — beauty was all around.
In Your Words: When has the laughter shared with a friend been healing?
It’s time for a little celebrating of my upcoming release of Catch a Falling Star (May 7, 2013). I’m hosting a Rafflecopter giveaway for the next four weeks — giving away four (4) Advance Reader Copies (ARCs) of Catch a Falling Star!
Comments 30
For some odd reason, I have the ability to occasionally reduce people to tears. Not that I TRY to point out the oddities of life, they just scream for me to make verbal observation of them. Anyone who’s read my Facebook page may have seen my refined, delicate, completely appropriate interactions with my big brother Kevin. He and I have a three word sentence that sets us off and then it’s OVER. Control is GONE. Same with my BFF , Robyn.
I’m the one who whispers things in church to make people suddenly get up and “go to the restroom”. I have had people hold on to the microphone until they HAD to give to to me.
I admit it, I cause trouble. Lots and lots of trouble.
But, unless it’s my brother, I am NEVER malicious. And even then, we have a line. I would rather be self-effacing than mock someone. I will mock the outfit of someone trying to be awesome, like on TV, but not the person. You will NEVER hear me intentionally HURT someone.
I’ll razz a yoga fail on Facebook, but I would never dream of truly shaming that sweet, dear girl who just fell and hurt herself rather badly.
There is having fun. And there is making fun.
I like to have fun. Oh yes, I do.
Author
Oh, yes. Yes, you do.
And it’s one of the things I love about you.
Let me just say, that day was a BLAST! Not only did we help Beth with her outfits, but, somehow, Sonia and I happened to have on “the perfect red” to go with each and every shot of Beth’s. Of course, we didn’t want to outshine the STAR, but we had no idea that we would all look so coordinated. As we like to say “That’s how we roll.”
I love your question, Beth. When you ask, “when has laughter with a friend been healing?” I have faces pop in my head. And the image I get is of my friend(s) and me doubled over, breathlessly laughing. The bonus is I count those as tummy crunches and call it exercise, too! Thank you, my friend, for being one of my dear friends, my BFF that doubles me over with laughter and leaves me with a feeling of “full -to -overflowing.”
Author
Laughter … it’s a good medicine.
Healing in ways we never imagined.
It’s always fun to “see” you three interact–on FB and elsewhere. You have a beautiful friendship! 🙂
Oh I just love that whole experience for you.
I seem to have no trouble laughing at myself all the time, which in turns makes me share with friends and then we all have a good laugh…
Author
With friends, an experience a usually dread (having a camera pointed at me) became a treasured memory.
Amazing how friendship does that.
Your pics turned out fabulous!! You are beautiful, inside and out.
I think Mel and I are going to have plenty of laughs this weekend…hehe. Bring on the silliness!
Author
Photos, you do realize, are required, not optional.
And you must laugh until Mel snorts Diet Coke with Lime out her nose.
That,too, is required.
Wonderful, wish we could all have been there but you brought it to us. That much laughter? Sometimes being reuinited w/ dear friends brings such joy we laugh and cry at the same time. I remember that happening in Indianapolis and am sure it may again.
Author
Reunion with friends — some of the most joy-filled laughter ever.
During a grieving process. Crying, laughing. Healing.
Author
Amen.
Beth, I love your photo! And I love how the photographer captured your playful side. 🙂
My best friend and I have been through thick and thin for almost 34 years. We can read each other like a book. (Yes, feeble pun intended.) We’ve had so many times during our friendship that we had to laugh our way through the good AND the bad that it’s difficult to pinpoint just one.
Couldn’t get by without our friends!
Author
Agreed, Cynthia. Life is just better — in the good and the bad times — with our girlfriends.
Okay, for the record, you are one of the most beautiful women I know–inside and out. 🙂
I am privileged to have come into a group of friends at church. We’re “doing life together.” Recently, we celebrated a birthday. It was a beautiful evening of stress-relieving laughter. It was especially beautiful to laugh because one of our number has a husband who’s dealing with some very serious health issues right now. Being able to laugh and regain perspective maintains the bond we share.
Author
You made me cry, Jeanne.
In a good way.
But you did.
What a fun, wonderful day! Gathering your posse to get involved in things that you find challenging ALWAYS makes it better. The laugh factor goes through the roof – especially if your friends have a great sense of humor. What could have been a tedious, tense experience turned into a memorable day of giggles, smiles and wonderful fellowship for you. LOVE! How in the world would we do life without our BFFs? 🙂
Author
I couldn’t have said it better, Donna … friends and fellowship = memories.
You look like you were having a great, joy-filled fun day! And I know that look you were talking about–the deer caught in the headlights sort of look. 😉
Author
🙂
Exactly, Pat.
Exactly.
I love this, Beth. As soon as I opened your post and saw the picture, I was already smiling. When I realized that there was a man standing behind that door, a thought flashed through my mind and I want to share it with you.
Brides in waiting – supporting each other, dolling each other up, fixing each others hair, making each other laugh, smile, feel GOOD, feel BEAUTIFUL – as we prepare for THE MAN waiting at the door to our heart. Jesus. I know you and your besties made HIM smile today – and that day, too, in sweet anticipation for the great wedding feast.
Blessings,
Becky
Author
Love this, Becky.
Absolutely love this.
The best days are with good friends…
Love the picture. Fun times!
Hi Beth –
What a blast! I love your friends, your creative way of doing things, and sharing the experiences. I also share your fear of the camera, so I understand. I stared at the photo for a while trying to figure out HOW you got the door to stay upright. That’s one heck of a man to stand behind it to keep it from falling down.
Lol. You made me laugh today.
Michelle
LOVE this post! Love & resonate with the responses. If it weren’t for laughter I would be dead. Or crazy…and not in the fun way. Laughter is the best kind of breathing.
Looks like so much fun! Best friends and laughter are the BEST.
What a fun photo shoot. Love the outdoor office concept.
Author
Thanks, Keli.
I had so much fun that day!
Beth, thanks for this inside look at your photo shoot. I’ve really enjoyed the pictures on FB and your blog here, along with the rest of your website. They shout of joy and fun times. It’s so great that you were able to share that day with your friends. And I was curious how that door stayed up. 🙂 Fabulous!
Blessings,
Andrea