Up close, yet faraway at Christmas

               Christmasornaments_2

The reflection in the Christmas ornament is of me with my new macro lens. French husband is standing over my shoulder smiling. He is giddy! But really I am the happier one because of the Christmas gift he gave me.

                Frenchsilver

I called my family in California to wish them a Merry Christmas. It seems each year when I call them at Christmas my brother Mathew is helping my Mom mash the potatoes, (I must add, the best mashed potatoes in the world) and my Dad is saying, "Poor Corey all the way in France, not here with us." It seems that is when I call… right after he says that.

Nine hours time difference between France and California puts my family at the Christmas lunch table (2pm) when I am nearly ready for bed here in France (11pm.)

                Self_portrait

When I call home at Christmas the phone is passed around and I quickly say, "Merry Christmas" to each and every one. The phone is held to the ears of the little ones, sometimes they make a cooing sound, most the time I imagine they are trying to lick the phone as I talk to them in baby talk.

The last person I talked to this Christmas was my Godchild George. I asked him what he got from Santa? He giggled and told me he got a camera. I asked him if he would send me a photo, he agreed. I asked him if he could send me a photo of his big toe, not his little toe, but of his big toe. His laugh, his darling, childish laugh was pure music to my ears.

I felt right in the middle of love.



Comments

46 responses to “Up close, yet faraway at Christmas”

  1. Corey, what a great gift…more awesome photos for us to enjoy in the next year!

  2. Have fun playing with your new toys……..
    I love you my darling one.
    Kisses
    Love Jeanne
    Your tree is beautiful and so are YOU!

  3. Perfect gift for you as you venture out into the “published” world. Use it with great success!
    Darla

  4. What a great new toy, Corey!! Enjoy!!

  5. We are so fortunate to live in this century where loved ones are only a click or a phone call away.
    I have a friend who’s brother is serving overseas and her mother always sets a place at the dinner table for him.
    Just like you far away but always in each others’ hearts!
    Enjoy your new lens, I can hardly wait to see the images you share veiled in that magical touch you have.
    Susan

  6. I also got a new macro lense for my nicon for Christmas. The best toy I’ve ever had .-)
    And perfect for the books I will write, for my food blog, for portraits, for…….. I love it.

  7. Merry Christmas Corey! I can feel for your missing being with your family. Mine is also separated by many miles. I live in the US in NH, my family in AL and OK and my husband’s family in CO and NC. All scattered about makes it very difficult to be physically together at Christmastime – but as you mentioned, at least we have the phone and photos to share.
    Congratulations on your new camera! I look forward to seeing what you’ve seen with your new lens.

  8. Too bad your parents don’t have a speaker phone. You’d be right in the mix.
    Very nice gift from Yann. (Good job, Yann :D).
    It was just the 5 of us for Christmas too.

  9. Isn’t that funny, the feeling of calling home when our holiday is finishing and theirs is just starting? I did the same…
    Hope you had a great holiday.

  10. Corey, hope you had a Holly Christmas. The way you talk about your family, your God children, your brothers and their mash potatoes or their bites on turkey cookies is just endearing and delicious. All the best for you, your french+californian family. Love* Suzanne (from Portugal)

  11. have fun with your new macro lens (and play with the depth of field…you can make some really beautiful photos as a result!). and thanks for sharing your lovely experiences with us… 🙂
    nancy..

  12. Paris Parfait

    What a lovely, thoughtful gift. And a lovely post – George sounds adorable. 🙂

  13. Corey, your posts makes it seem as if you and France are around the corner. The time difference must be the hardest thing. I got a new Nikon D40x for my Christmas present. Now, I can take lots of wonderful pictures for my blog and articles. Well, at least it won’t the camera that makes them amateurish anyway. LOL.

  14. Merry Christmas Cory! OOoo.. I can’t wait to see the new photos that you can take with your new lovely toy!
    Enjoy,
    Abbie

  15. Have a wonderful time between Christmas and New Year’s! Looking forward to more thought-provoking photos and words from you in the coming year.

  16. Hooray for a new Merry Christmas lens!!
    I know you will use it well and with love :o)

  17. Cannot wait to see how you use this new gift!!!
    What a lovely Christmas you had!!!

  18. What a thoughtful gift from FH. He knows how much you enjoy photographing the beauty around you. I got a fancy schmancy digital camera for Christmas, too, and I’m still jumping up and down over it! Whoo hoo!
    And yes, I can understand how it feels to be living away from family over the holidays. Your family in California must get excited when you call, knowing that they can have a few moments to catch up with you, laugh at your terrific sense of humour…
    I hope that you have a wonderful time the rest of this holiday week, Corey. Take lots of fabulous new photos with your new lens!

  19. I can just imagine the beauty that we will see as a result of this wonderful gift.
    What a thoughtful husband you have.

  20. Ah yes…the California-Europe time difference. By the time I was sick of eating prime rib yesterday, my mom was just prepping hers for the oven 🙂 Hope you had a very Merry Christmas!

  21. great gift for the new adventures ahead, starting with a bold challenge of round reflecting objects perfectly catching the moment and atmosphere in time ;))
    have a great continuation of the holidays!

  22. No one deserves a micro lens more than you.
    You photos are always wonderful…that is of course what Victoria Magazine knew…but I can see that photos will be even more spectacular now…lucky us 🙂

  23. my initials seem to be on your new french silver…hummmmmmmmmmm…think of me when you use them…blessings and peace to you and yours, rebecca

  24. Dear Corey,
    Looking forward to seeing even more beautiful photos from you this coming year. I just read your article in Victoria and your home is as beautiful as I imagined. I was feeling a little bit of the post-Christmas letdown, but your story inspired me to go home and make my family a big day after Christmas dinner!

  25. Looking forward to seeing what this new lens brings us….
    Merry Christmas

  26. What a wonderful gift of your new macro lens! We who love you and are inspired by your words and photos know that we too will be receiving wonderful gifts as we will now see your world in even more glorious detail than ever before! May 2008 be filled with blessings and love, hugs to you, gretchen

  27. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas, Corey! I watched the televised midnight mass at the Vatican on Christmas Eve and thought of you over there in Europe. 😉 I wish you and your family a joyous and peaceful New Year!

  28. Corey,
    You are quite the photograper with your new camera. I love the reflection of you two in the Christmas balls.
    I got a new camera too, but not as fancy as yours.
    My husband read your article today in Victoria. He loved it. He said your home is amazing. He has good taste. I loved sharing it with him, and telling him how nice, smart, friendly and talented you are.
    So glad you had a nice Christmas. It must be so hard to be so far away from your family.
    Thanks for sharing,
    Rosemary

  29. ‘right in the middle of love’ – the best place to be, no matter what time of day or how far away…
    I hope you can share the big toe photo with us someday.
    Glad you had such a happy Christmas – and Christmas gift – thank you for sharing it with us in these photos~

  30. Corey – your photography is beautiful! You did so well without the macro lens, I can’t wait to see what you do with it! Can’t wait to see the piture of the big toe either! 🙂 Marva

  31. Such a perfect gift for someone who loves details. Happy Holidays!

  32. Corey,I must say, I love,love,reading your blog. Makes my day. Your so Funny! God bless you and your family!

  33. Dear Yann:
    Thank you for the macro lens you gave Corey. We will all reap it’s rewards 🙂
    You are not only cute, but smart too 😉
    Happiest of Holidays!

  34. I did an ornament reflection on my blog too – great minds! Glad you enjoyed the e-card! Love & blessings to you all. Peace, JP/deb

  35. I want a macro lens too!! Have fun…and then share it with us…Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

  36. Dear Corey,
    Santa knows you were a good girl this year. Already appreciate how you are sharing your gift with us!

  37. Aww, that is so sweet. I bet they all miss you. Do you ever come home for Christmas?
    I saw your pictures in Victoria! I didn’t realize they were going to be of your own home! That was so cool, Corey. I loved it.
    oxox 🙂

  38. such a beautiful reflection
    shiny and bright
    Happy Holidays Corey!
    xox – eb.

  39. Reading your post . . . you are a truly blessed.
    ~elaine~

  40. What a warm tradition to experience year after year. And I do hope if that sweet little toe photo arrives that we will be able to see it. Annie

  41. Have fun with your macro lens, Corey – it’s the biggest fun! Just don’t lose sight of the big picture when you’re up close peeking at the details! I love your Christmas bauble shot.

  42. I love the last picture of you and Yann in the “boule de noel” : great picture

  43. Marie-Noëlle

    That Christmas decoration (ball/ bauble / bobble !!!)bubbling over with that reflection of those two birdies is beautiful… very unusual !
    NOW do you remember where you got it ???
    I WANT ONE … to hang in our Christmas tree …!!!

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  45. Ah! What wonderful husbands we have. I’m singing love songs to my new macro lens as well, thanks to my hubby! I can’t wait to see where we both take our new obsession!

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