Coming up for air

 
Yes, I know it’s been a while since I last put up a new post. While I absolutely love my homemade Nutella chips, that’s not the reason you’ve had to look at them for the past few weeks. Not entirely. (I do think they deserved the extended exposure anyway. Those cookies are good.)

Things have been pretty unrelenting lately, and I’ve discovered something about myself. In a crisis and under extreme duress, I write. And it comes fairly easily. When I’m having a bad day, I cook. Or shoot. Snuggle with Tom on the couch. And that pretty much fixes things. But when I’m buried under tons of deadlines and past-due needed-it-yesterday demands? I hunker down and just keep working, barely coming up for air, not even to cook, shoot, or write. I think Twitter put out an APB on me two weeks ago.

 
The Ivory Hut: Coming Up for Air

 
This has been some kind of winter, and I’m not just talking about the weather. The past weeks have brought sad news of deaths, impacting family and friends both here and abroad. Tom lost his first cousin, who quietly died in his wife’s arms mere minutes after waking up, putting his arm around her, and kissing her good morning. Alice lost her father in a tragic accident. And most recently, Tom’s nephew and niece sadly lost their 5-year-old-son.

It’s been tough. Enough to almost make the fire look petty. Almost.

But I’m finally coming up for some much-needed air, and I’m going to do it in style. Which is a big thing for me because, if you haven’t noticed it yet, style doesn’t know my name or where I live.

I’m heading to San Francisco for a girls’ photography getaway hosted by Adobe and for the first time in a long time, I get to think about photography and ONLY photography all day. And a half. I’m not sure how my name landed in their invitation list, but it couldn’t have come at a better time.

 
The Ivory Hut: Coming Up for Air

 
So what, you may ask, do these photos here have to do with San Francisco? To be honest, nothing at all. They’re here for purely selfish reasons. See, I needed to remind myself that I still know how to make pictures, so I figured I’d pick some random photos I’ve taken over the past few months. In case my memory needs some serious jogging.

 
The Ivory Hut: Coming Up for Air

 
My body needs to do some serious jogging too. Like, right now.

Except I’m in an airport, so I can’t really jog here right now.

I just love it when I can come up with valid excuses.

 
The Ivory Hut: Coming Up for Air

 
Oh, one more thing: it’s good to be back!

 
The Ivory Hut: Coming Up for Air

 
 

13 thoughts on “Coming up for air”

  1. Dear Erika,

    May I call you Erika? I just came upon your site from Pioneer Woman and I’m not sure, but are you pinoy? Obviously, I am that’s why I ask. I love your photos! have to read your previous entries to know more about you, but I’m sorry to hear about that fire that gutted your house last year and I admire your courage and desire to remain positive through all of these. I’m looking forward to following this awesome blog.

  2. I’m so sorry that this winter has been so terrible for you. Your photos are beautiful, as always, and I do hope you thoroughly enjoy yourself in San Fransisco. You deserve it. :)

  3. Welcome back!! Sometimes we need a hiatus. I’ll be out your way in early March, staying at the Hoboken W. Still working through that list of restaurants you gave me early last year!

  4. After all you and you family have been through these past several months, God knows that you are due for some good times. Love your photographs and so happy for you that you are going to this girls photography get-away. Take deeps breaths and enjoy all the beauty that you are able to capture in your lens.

  5. I’m so glad you’re back! I’ll keep checking back to see what you’re posting – these are beautiful photos!

    Look forward to seeing what’s next!

  6. I feel the same way right now…except I have come back up for air.

    New to your blog…I appreciate your voice and vulnerability. Thanks for sharing!

  7. We have missed you too, Erika. I’m so sorry that your family (and Alice’s) have experienced so much loss over the past months. My thoughts are with you. I hope you had a wonderful time in SF.

  8. Hi

    So glad to see you back. I was a bit worried…
    Life has some of those cycles that take hold on your soul way past their welcome time. Coming back to the surface, the first big free air you encounter feels so good.

    Don’t be a stranger…

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