Froggie's Birthday Retrospective
My birthday was Tuesday, July 30th.
I turned 43.
And I was unconscious for most of it.
I started a new dose of medication and it did not go well. I was quite sick. I have been out of commission for most of this week and was unable to celebrate my birthday with all of my friends.
I was feeling pretty bummed so I decided to look back at pictures of my past few birthdays and hoped nostalgia would make me feel better.
And it did.
But you can never seem to get the sweet without the bitter when grief is involved. Despite the happy feelings, it was also a huge reminder of what I lost. And it made me really miss Otis and my parents.
These are such joyous memories and I am so grateful I was learning photography and was eager to document everything in my life. And I decided to re-edit all of the photos with my current skills and I think they turned out pretty well. So I'm going to share them with you and we can all celebrate my birthday virtually.
We start with me and Otis in our birthday headgear.
And here is The FrogMom joining in.
Seems I got a few presents that year.
But no present can top a corgi trying to sneak attack with an ear licking.
The next year I ordered some cool Batman birthday hats.
I did not get cool Batman birthday hats.
I was a little grumpy about that.
"Otis, we are doing our grumpy face!"
"But I wanna be a pretty princess."
"Okay, but will you do a grumpy face first?"
Mom and Otis had a pretty special relationship. And seeing them together always tugs at the heartstrings.
My good friends Sarajane and Erin came over for a birthday dinner.
And I was trying out a new photography apparatus to help me get better portraits. Something called a "tri-reflector."
So naturally I needed some test subjects volunteers.
I didn't really know how to use it properly, so it mostly just made their necks brighter, but I got a few good shots.
Sarajane made me one of my all time favorite gifts...
A Jayne hat!
And another, tinier Jayne hat!
Let's see if we can get Otis to wear that.
Nope.
Let's try one more time.
You know what, I'll just wear the tiny Jayne hat.
Everyone must wear a Jayne hat!
"Hey Dad!"
"Are you really asleep?"
"LIAR!"
The next year, my good friend Brittany joined the fun. And someone gave her a knife for some reason.
And my dad got very serious. So I used my very serious LUT on the photo.
Such deep thoughts.
Deep thoughts concluded.
Deactivate serious LUT.
My friend Ryan came across the country to watch me blow out a candle.
Just so you know, I am not a 1 year old in this picture.
My mom found this in a drawer somewhere. It was the only birthday candle she had.
And then the next year it was just Brittany and Erin and Otis. We had a pizza party.
I asked them to do a Renaissance pose.
And then ruin it.
Renaissance pose...
And then ruin it...
I've had some pretty good birthdays with amazing family and friends. And I am grateful for those memories.
And I do plan to redo my birthday when I am feeling better. Perhaps I will finally try a real sushi restaurant instead of just getting it at Sam's.
In any case, if you are inclined to get me something for my birthday, I have an Amazon wishlist.
Froggie's Amazon Wishlist
I also am trying to build a new photography studio upstairs, and if you would rather help with that, these are some things I could use.
Froggie's Photography Wishlist
And I also have a PayPal and Venmo if that is easier.
PayPal
Venmo
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