No, not to some fabulous tropical island in the middle of the Pacific.  I wish!  I took a little blog vaca to get caught up on some work.  I’ve been busy, busy, busy editing, designing albums, and shooting for the past couple of weeks.  This is my busiest time of year and I just can’t wait until October is over  But, I have lots of fun blog posts coming up this week so stay tuned.

I have two awesome weddings to blog

A rad maternity session with old buildings, cows, and cornfields!

And a cute, little, baby!

Fun, fun, fun!

I was in my apartment in Westwood.  My alarm clock was supposed to go off at 7am, but I woke up a few minutes early and turned it off.  It had been a very dreary and overcast summer in Westwood, but that morning it was bright and sunny.  I remember thinking it was such a beautiful day outside.  I jumped in the shower and as I was getting out my roommate knocked on the door and said, “Drew, something horrible has happened”.  I ran out of the bathroom thinking one of our friends had been in an accident and as she explained what was happening I couldn’t even comprehend it.  Planes flying into buildings.  New York.  DC.  Planes still missing.  Some were supposed to be on their way to LA.  My 5 roommates and I stared at our little TV not knowing what to do.

I got no cell service in my apartment and when I finally reached my Mom all she said was, “Get out of LA, NOW!”.  I offered a ride to any of my roommates who wanted to come, but they opted to stay as most were in summer school and finals were that week.  I threw a few things in a bag and ran to my car.  I had to drive past the Federal Building and LAX and I was so scared.  I looked at the people in the cars next to me and everyone had blank stares on their faces.

I look back at it now and it all seems so dramatic.  Running to my car and fleeing LA.  But on that day no one knew what was going to happen.  It seemed like the world was going to end.  I spent the next couple of weeks at home before school started and it was so crazy not hearing any planes overhead and the only ones we did hear were fighter jets and stealth bombers.  It was such a scary and uncertain time.

Since then I’ve been to NYC twice and have visited the site of the World Trade Center.  As I stood there I looked up and could not even fathom that there had ever been two huge skyscrapers there.  It’s just unimaginable.  That day seems like a lifetime away.  So much has happened since then.  I graduated school, got my dream job, retired from my dream job, got married, started my own business, had a baby.  But, I can think back to that day and all of the feelings come rushing back.  I hope none of us ever have to go through a day like that again.  I hope my Brayden never has to experience anything like that.  I hope the war can end and our troops can come home.  And I hope that one day the world can be a peaceful place without hate where we can understand and embrace each others differences.

PS  The auction for the Nielson family ends tonight at midnight.  I’m pretty bummed that no one has bid.  It’s a great deal!  If you bid now you will be getting the digital negatives from your session for FREE!  And besides that you get to feel good about yourself for helping a family out!  Please email me at drew@drewbphotography with any questions.