Exciting News!

We have had a few exciting things happen around here lately.  A few weeks ago, I received an e-mail regarding a photo I took a few years ago at one of Harry's baseball practices.  Whenever their team was behind and in an effort of team spirit, they would put their "rally caps" on (inside out ball caps).   I was never able to get a good photo of it at a game so I had them do it one day after practice. Someone at the Smithsonian (who found my photo on Flickr) e-mailed me asking if they could use my photo in an upcoming exhibit!  I was so shocked!  And so honored.  A few people that I told even asked me if it was a prank.  Anyway, it was legitimate and my photo will be part of a traveling exhibit for the Smithsonian y'all!

Rally Caps by Kim S

This is from the e-mail:

Hometown Teams focuses on small, local teams as well as college and professional athletics to show the spirit, diversity and love of sports all across America. The exhibit is divided into six major themes: Sports Everywhere; Fields of Glory; Take Me Out to the Ballgame; Community Pride; Playing the Game; and Sports Explosion. These themes include personal stories from players, objects, images and videos that convey the impact of sports on people throughout the United States.  

We would like to include your image "Rally Caps ” in the Take Me Out to the Ballgame section. The exhibit will tour from about Feb. 2014 until Jan. 2021.

Although I am a pretty confident person, I have never had a ton of confidence in my photography.  I love photography. It has been a passion of mine for years. I have taken several classes and workshops and I have done a little professional work but I am very critical of my own photos.  So the fact that the Smithsonian is including my photo was just the boost I needed to keep trying to become a better photographer.  In fact, I am taking a new workshop this week to sharpen my skills and creativity.

In other VERY exciting news, a member of our family was interviewed a few weeks ago for a national magazine.  And Monday--- there is a photo shoot for some of us!!!!  I don't want to say more than that right now because I don't know what will be included in the article or when it will be out.  But it is very exciting and I will share more as I have more information.  It is just Murphy's law that the shoot is Monday and my hair hi-light and trim appointment is Wednesday!!!!!  Oh well!

And in other news...Will finally got his learner's permit (it is hard to get in the DMV here) and he is learning to drive (he also completed 3 weeks of drivers ed classes). Oh my..that is an experience!  We got up at 6:15 on July 5th to be in line early (they open at 8).  When we got there at 7:20...this was the line already!!!!  I think we were around 70 in line and by the time the doors opened there were at least 150 people in line.

We got out at around 9:30 so I guess that wasn't too bad.  I let Will drive for a minute in an empty paring lot right after we got out and that is all I can say about that.  He is taking driving sessions with an instructor and Dave takes him out to practice.  My heart cannot quite take it.

In other news, Will has also completed his Junior Lifeguard program and yesterday the directors told me that they got excellent reviews of all Will's hard work and his helpful attitude.  They are ready to hire him as soon as we can find a Red Cross class here now that he is 15!  He worked for free for the last month (about 5 days a week) to learn all the ins and outs of the job.  It is a great program at our local pool. They even invited him to join them at a life-guarding competition on Monday in College Station.  They have never brought a junior guard before.  So proud of all that you are doing this summer, Will.  I want to mention that Will is also volunteering at the zoo this summer which is almost full time (8-4:30) the weeks he is scheduled.  So he has been BUSY and productive which is what I like to see in a a teenager.