(Heads up. This is a ridiculously lengthy post of a seemingly non-ending Feast of Fisher Family Fotos.)
For more than 40 years the Fisher Family has been doing it – gathering and celebrating and making the Holidays more festive and fun and (sometimes) frivolous. When I came on the scene in 1982 the event was always at Aunt Joan and Uncle Byron's’ beautiful home in Murray. Who remembers the year Joan and Debbie made the most exquisite Santa Clauses? Back then, everyone was expected to have a part (Grandma Fisher’s order). Since the Fishers were such a musical bunch we were always favored with rare treasures – harp and voice and piano and flute. We were the “Ol-Fish-Per-Skies” (Ol for Olsens, Fish for Fishers, Per for Harpers, Skies for Zabriskies). Since then, we’ve had sledding parties, swimming parties, trap shooting, piñatas, slide shows, light parade, family trivia and family sing-alongs, and always good food, and, best of all, Good Company. From our core group of Fisher Aunts and Uncles, Aunt Shirlene (my mother-in-law) left us first, then Grandma Fisher. Uncle Byron’s great, kind heart gave us a terrible scare for awhile. Forever-young Aunt ReNon left us in August 2011, and Noble Uncle Lowell in 2012. We are changed-yet unchanged. Family Principles like Love and Support, Encouragement and Strength are still a part of the OlFishPerSkie legacy.
Now, rounding us all up for a group picture was not unlike herding cats. But so much more fun. (I think - I’ve never actually tried to heard felines). I’m posting so many because, with this many Fishers, there is always something funny going on with someone. Perhaps you would like to take my ‘I Spy’ challenge in which you try to find the photo containing my particular spy clue. You could make it more fun by adding your own.
Here goes . . . I Spy:
* a ferocious bear
*a Yawning Aunt Joan, a Cheering Aunt Joan, a Aunt Joan-in –the-headlights.
*a Super Cool Peter
*a Miss Big Pucker Lips Loa
*a Tony looking like Male Model on magazine front cover
*a Ranae and Rachelle hidden by adorable little guys
* Lauren getting a pat on the head
*Boredom taking over cross-legged handsome fellow
*Emily being strangled by Usually-Benevolent-Brother
Hey, I just realized. Nobody did rabbit ears. Unusual for a bunch this size and silliness. We are such a Classy Crowd, I think.
Photography tip: Unless you’re doing something edgy and artsy you want every face to have a place unobstructed and in focus. Try to stack them “up” instead of “back”. That way your lens will be able to keep everyone’s face the same size and same importance and same focus. AMAP (as much as possible). Take lots of shots to increase your chances of a no blink, grimace or look away image of everyone at the same time. Ha! Good luck.
As a photographer, why do I always like the ri-dic-u-lous ‘group hug’ or ‘be silly’ shot? Even when I know there are those for whom this request causes great strain and distress, discomfort and/or embarrassment? Maybe even contempt for the photographer? I will tell you why . . . Eyes brighten, dimples deepen, eyebrows rise, hands wave, stiffness either falls away or becomes completely acceptable. There can be no ‘wrong’ expression or body language message. Suddenly the picture comes alive with dozens of human emotions, and the perspective of anyone looking at the picture is such that they feel THEY are being winked at, laughed with, waved to, cheered for, kissed, teased, etc.
. . . So go ahead Abby, chomp your cousins head; Peter, stick your nose a little higher; Andrew, ham it up a little more; Kyle keep doing that grandiose thing with your arms and Mark thanks for being a good sport, I know now you were feeling really crummy. And everyone! Laugh harder, hug tighter, smile wider, there just isn’t enough time for family gladness unless we Carpe Diem (Seize the Day).
Papa and Shirlene’s progeny – all of them.
Tis a puzzlement: Why are Laura’s glasses reflecting green while Milts and Papa’s right beside her are behaving nicely?
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Fishers. Hope to see many of you throughout 2013.
