HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Maria, anxiously waiting and nervously texting as she waits for her husband to arrive.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

So how was your thanksgiving? Good? Bad? So-so? For me, it was great. In fact, it was really great as I got to do something I had never done before. I got to photograph the military homecoming for one of my past couples, Maria and Brian. To give you a quick rundown on the history of Maria and Brian, about a year ago they hired my company to marry them at sunrise. Now I remember all of my couples faces, but when I met Maria in person this second time around, I honestly could not place her with any of my previous brides. The reason? She had literally lost 70 pounds, and she looked even more amazing now than on her wedding day.

I'm sure you figured out by now that "homecoming" is not a high school dance. It's actually the day, the minute, the second, when all those who were deployed overseas come home. Today, on thanksgiving, the last Marine battalion from Hawaii came home. The chosen venue, an air hanger decorated with a gigantic American Flag, and a band to set everyone in the mood. The atmosphere there was surreal as it felt as though I was backstage at some type of concert.

Hundreds of women were there crowding the security barricades waiting anxiously for their husbands. As the charter plane touched down for a landing in front of our hanger, the families and women screamed at the top of their lungs like teens at a Justin Beiber concert. Meanwhile, Maria, in control, dabbed the sides of her eyes, trying not to ruin her makeup, as she wanted to look the best for her husband.

I honestly like this kiss better than their wedding day kiss

When the first Marine stepped off the plane, the crowd cheered and went wild. The marines slowly shuffled off of the plane and then it happened. Brian, after shaking hands with a wounded veteran and other soldiers, finally found his wife behind the barrier. With long strides he swept over to his anxious wife. His eyes watery, he grabbed her close, hugged her, and whispered something in her ear. Then, he kissed her like the man who did not see his wife for eight months.

And well, that was the exciting part of my Thanksgiving. I snapped a roll of black and white film for them, along with a handful of digital shots. Oh, I did get to shake Brian's hand to thank him for his service (that was also a highlight of my day). Like any true hero, he answered, "It's no problem..." It's men like Brian, heroes like Brian, who really make it possible for people like me to do what I do, peacefully. And I never forget things like that.

Well, Happy Thanksgiving everyone...as you can see, this day was a special one!


Steve