Leebo's Part Two

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Sacha Samotin, 16, remembers as a young child that his grandfather bought him a book called "Ghosts of the White House." He was reading about the Presidents of the United States while other kids were exchanging Pokémon cards. He remembers at the age of nine watching the 2000 elections with his mom as the nation learned about hanging chads and the ballots were counted and recounted. All eyes were on Florida as the battle for the presidency was fought. It was an impressionable age, and Samotin found the whole ordeal fascinating. Two years ago Samotin began volunteering with the local Democratic Party in Naples and Sunday he will begin a semester as a page with the House of Representatives in Washington, D.C. He doesn't know which side of politics he wants to be on, in the spotlight or behind the scenes, but he knows he wants to a part of it.

Election Night goofup...

The Supervisor of Elections office in Collier County needed a little help with their web updates last night. They reported that 100 per cent of the votes were in. But, they failed to say it was 100 per cent of the absentee ballets that were counted. Anyway, this photo was taken after the woman running for school board (fourth from the left at top) was told (unfortunately by a Naples Daily News reporter) that the count was wrong, that the race was not yet over, and she had not, in fact, won. This photo was made as the news was announced to her supporters. She did eventually still end up winning the majority of the votes. But, the premature announcement was a bit annoying for some.

Dry run

Looks like Fay might become more of a storm for the northern part of the state. She blew through Southwest Florida with some wind and rain, but no real damage. I was in Everglades City during the night of the storm and hung out at Leebo's Rock Bottom Bar, where the locals didn't seem too concerned, and then ventured out the next morning.... If nothing else, we'll be prepared if a stronger storm comes our way.

'Jesus would be, like, thrilled'

I spent some time following women who belong to the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist that teach at Ave Maria Grammar and Preparatory School. I was struck by how "normal" they were. They were about my age, all 30-ish, give or take a few years. They said words like awesome (and not only in the correct way of saying that God is Awesome.) They were kind and funny and were great with their students. Read the story here.

Edges

This is my attempt today at composing from the outside, in.

His Life So Far

Born in Copeland Fla, in 1961, the ninth of twelve children. He grew up in Copeland and Naples, living in a world of poverty, abuse and drugs. At 17, he went to prison for the first time. He ended up in prison seven times, serving for a total of 22 years. Now in his late 40s, Nick Chandler has turned his life around, though he’s the first to admit that it’s been a struggle. He’s living in Sarasota, working and writing a book about his life, “Determined to Change.”

Collier County Bull Bash

This is a daily assignment I did a couple weeks ago. I'm a little late getting it up, but I am lacking in other content at the moment. So, here ya go.

Pet Funeral

Mr. Spock lays on his wooly blanket with a slipper snuggled against him. He looks like he is sleeping.

His "mama," Julia Giles, bends over the casket that holds him, crying and telling him how much she loves him and how much she’ll miss him.

This is her chance to say goodbye to the 11-year-old long-haired German shepherd that has been her companion since he was 8 weeks old.

She knew he was sick. She knew his time was coming, but she hoped she would be there when it happened. Instead, she received a call from her husband Randy on a recent Sunday when she was in Argentina.

Randy knew it was time. Mr. Spock hadn’t really moved all day. He wasn’t himself. Randy called Julia, held the phone to his friend’s furry black ear and let Mr. Spock hear his mama’s voice one more time.

Shortly after, Mr. Spock died in Randy’s arms.

"What do I do now," Randy thought to himself.

He found Pet Reverend Arlene Ponack through the Internet.

"Arlene took control of the situation and handled it for me," Giles says. "It was the best thing that could have happened to me at the time."

She contacted Pets at Peace, a pet funeral home affiliated with Fuller Funeral Home in Naples, that just opened on Tamiami Trail East. Licensed funeral director Brian Laurent arrived at the Giles’ Golden Gate home to take the dog in less than two hours.

"We’re handling your pets the same way we would handle a member of your human family," Laurent says.

During the service (the first at the funeral home), Ponack reads a poem: "With my pal gone, my side is bare. Just looking down, he is not there."

Randy and Julia sit in on a bench in front of the casket. They lean on one another and occasionally bend down to pet Tribble, the 7-year-old female German shepherd that was Mr. Spock’s mate.

She whimpers and then lays her head on the ground.

After the service, the Giles’ spend some time remembering Mr. Spock. He was plagued with illness for most of his life, but made up for his physical problems with a sharp mind.

He knew how to unscrew the caps off of soda bottles. He knew how to unlock and open the door. And he knew how to make his mama do something by grabbing her most expensive pair of shoes.

"The thing we enjoyed most about him was how he learned to love us and how he made us feel so content when he was around," Randy says. "He had sort of a magical affect on people, especially his mom and dad."

The funeral gave Mr. Spock the send off his parents felt he deserved and the time they needed to say goodbye.

"It helped my wife and I somehow get through the grief we’re still feeling," Randy says. "It is a Godsend."

And... another

I know I've already posted so many pictures of this baby, but I really love these pictures. Rebekah is such a pretty girl and doesn't have the scrunched look that so many newborns have. :) I also wanted to post a personal, yet public, message to Sarah and Scott.

Dear Sarah and Scott,
Thank you so much for asking me to photograph the birth of Rebekah. It is the single most important event I have ever photographed. Thank you for trusting me to be there. Thank you for allowing me to witness what will possibly be the single most important moment in YOUR lives. I can't tell you how touched and honored I feel to have been there. I love you both so much and I already love Rebekah so much.

Sarah, in all the time we've known each other, I knew you were nurturing just in the way you have fostered our friendship, the way you have listened and the way you have cared for everyone around you. But Friday, I watched that nurturing turn in to something so natural for you. You became a mother. And in the first seconds of Rebekah's life, anyone watching could tell that this is the life you were made for. It's like your own mother said to me, "Sarah was born to be a mother." She's right.

I can't wait to watch Rebekah grow and to watch as you and Scott become amazing parents.

The Dussault Family

Sarah woke up at 8 a.m. Friday with contractions, arrived to the hospital around 11 a.m. and delivered at 12:03 p.m. All I can say, is she must have done everything right to be blessed with such a short labor. I'm just glad I didn't miss it. I walked in to the room after arriving at the hospital in Coral Springs from Naples ten minutes before Rebekah came in to the world. Here are a few (approved) pics. :)

Rebekah Lynn (la parte tres)

Rebekah Lynn (Part Deux)

Rebekah Lynn

Rebekah Lynn Dussault

She takes the middle names of both her parents. And she is one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. Sarah did amazing, and as soon as I sift through all of the pictures (and get the approval from the mommy about how graphic they can be), I will be posting photos from the day. But, here is one of my favorites.