This weekend marks the 4 year anniversary since my father died in an accident at his house in Florida. I like to makr this anniversary with this story each year: (Written March 23, 2005) Last Thursday, on St. Patrick’s Day, we celebrated my father’s life by spreading his ashes about 2 miles off the Florida Keys (he had died unexpectedly the year before in an accident at this house). It was a beautiful ceremony. We had a St. Patrick’s Day memorial party in the afternoon at the house as dad had requested.
In the evening (about 9PM) the family (including the under 15 set who were not at the house during the day) gathered on the patio to enjoy mom’s key lime pie and other desserts by CANDLELIGHT. My nephew Kevin was the only youngin’ to join us on the patio as the other kids ate inside watching TV. Kevin is a little over 2 years old (he had only met my dad about a handful of times as his family lived in another state) He doesn’t really talk yet, as they say he is a slow learner and at the time we thought he was autistic, but he can usually put a word or two together once in a blue moon, and knows sign language for the important words like Eat, Food and Drink. Otherwise he talks gibberish as his speech teacher has told my sister. (Kelsey, Dillon & Kevin Dec 2004)
He’s never been to my parents house in Florida, and he was never in the backyard before this night (we all rented houses on a different parts of the island and had dinner at one another’s house the previous nights, [he never saw my dad on a boat, we only have one photo of Kevin and my dad together, he was 1.5 years when my father died and he had only met him a handful of times as my sister lived out of state.] As we sat around the table on the patio, and after about 20 minutes of eating and chatting KEVIN stands up and points into the darkness towards the water where my dad’s boat use to be docked (as it was sold after dad died) and states “POP-POP, boat.” He says this a few times. He goes on to say Pop-pop, minnow. “Pop-pop, home” “Pop-pop hello.” “No bait to fish”
A very emotional Mom then asked me to go get a photo of dad and give it to Kevin’s dad. His dad, Frank says to Kevin, “Who is this? Kevin said Pop-pop.” Kevin where is pop-pop? And then Kevin pointed towards where the stern (back) of the boat would be, and where my dad spent many hours tinkering (the boat was 26 feet long and has a definite stern, middle and bow section). (house and boat that I took on the day dad died when I flew to the Keys to see dad in the hospital before he passed. We were all sitting to the left, at the far right in the darkened part of the patio is a hammock that dad spent lots of hours on reading and snoozing)
As time went on, things got quiet and Kevin went back to gibberish, my sister Tracy said to me that it was like the movie the Sixth-Sense, I leaned over to her and said “Can Kevin see dead people?”. (I don’t think Kevin heard me, but his mother came over and tapped me on the head and looked at me with a disapproving look.)
About 5-10 minutes later, and just as some of us were getting ready to go home for the night, Kevin stands up and happily states, as he was raising his arms in the air like he was going to do a cheer, “NO ONE is DEAD,” “NO ONE is DEAD,” “Don’t Be Sad, No one is Dead,” Don’t be scared, No one is dead.” After about a minute or two he stopped and began playing patty cake with Pop-pop?. Then he played hide and go seek, even stating BOO a few times. Then he walked to the far (and less lit) side of the patio, about 25 feet from where we were all sitting, to where the empty hammock was. He then started pushing the hammock with TWO HANDS gleefully squealing “WHEEEEEE WHEEEEE ISNT THIS FUN….” Finally running back to where we were sitting stunned, Kevin stated one last time “NO ONE IS DEAD, DON’T BE SAD” “Pop-pop HOME”
At this point Kevin went on to play a game of stepping on someone’s toes, and then someone trying to step on his toes. This was a sight to see as he was clearly communicating and playing with someone (Pop-Pop?) as he was squealling in laughter and looking up. After a bit, as we were all sniffling and in a bit of shock, Kevin’s frazzled dad Frank said it was late, and time to go, at that point the usually mild manner boy just burst out crying and actually threw himself on the ground backwards (not violently though). As his dad picked him up, Kevin turned 180 degrees towards the water, where the stern of the boat would have been, where my dad spent so many hours, and said bye pop-pop, bye as he blew Pop-pop a kiss good-bye 
We all know how blessed we are to have had this amazing experience. And for months following this incident, Kevin would occassionally see Pop-pop and announce it to his mom and once had his mom call Nana to tell her, but sightings haven’t occurred in about 2 years, and once in awhile when I see Kevin I ask him if he has seen Pop-pop, nowadays he has no idea what I am talking about, and that is just fine with his mother, as she doesn’t want Kevin remembering seeing Pop-pop after he had died, so please don’t tell him!
I was further intrigued when I saw this shirt…free I love free (although I have to say I turned down the ice cream, gotta start this diet, it’s almost speedo season)
Why it’s a free cone giveaway for Stand Up for Kids Philadelphia partnered with Philadelphia Ben & Jerry’s stores for the Turn Purple Campaign and Free Cone Day on Tuesday, April 29th from 12-8 PM. 
Although it was “Free Cone” day; Customers were encouraged to give donations while they wait in line for their free ice cream (the dozen folks I asked just enjoyed their free ice cream, but hopefully they learned a little about “STAND UP FOR KIDS” 
There was ice cream, there was entertainment, there was the very talented Germantown Exclusive Drill Team and Drum Core
As I left about 7:30PM, the line still snaked its way around the corner down walnut street
SHOWSTOPPERS: The paparazzi on the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art will have more reasons than ever to go into a frenzy at next Monday’s Costume Institute gala. In addition to co-chairs George Clooney and Julia Roberts, Giorgio Armani is said to be bringing along Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes. The rumor mill also has Jennifer Lopez coming to the benefit with Alberta Ferretti, Kate Bosworth with Chanel, and Eva Mendes, Rachel Bilson and Fergie with Calvin Klein. Others expected to attend include celebs Mariah Carey, Renée Zellweger, Scarlett Johansson, Kate Moss, Mary J. Blige, Claire Danes, Mischa Barton and LeBron James, and designers Valentino, Tom Ford, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana and Donatella Versace. 
A wedding is always a special time to bring friends and family together. Especially the Nakamura’s as many of their family lives in San Francisco. This was especially a wonderful time as it was the first time the Nakamura and Goman clan ever all got together (Emy’s mom and dad’s sides.)
After hounding Emy to look at me, she finally humored me and looked back. She had specifically wanted only candid shots, but guess what, candid is good for most of the shots, but eye contact is important too.
Which included pacing them down the aisle and signalling the band to start playing a song that I didn’t recognize as the “Bridal March” I love these shots, and every bride makes this pensive face right before they walk the final walk. (Maybe I should become a wedding planner, that would be fun)
They thank their friends. Emy’s brother David is to her right. (See last July for the coverage of his & Kris’ wedding in Glacier National Park)
Signing the guest index cards, again a new tradition
Hello I’m your Aunt Alice
The Bridal Party; sadly after this shot someone in this photo also had a 100F temp and just about passed out, so no more group photos occured with him in it.
After a bit of arm twisting, I got the happy couple to pose for the only photo that I think they will cherish for years to come (well I took a dozen or so of this shot, darn they left the Bridal Bouquet upstairs)
Nice with the cake. It was delicious.
Lauren Graham was nowhere to be found. But Jeff Daniels was about.
Then it was back to Walnut Street. I was carrying my camera and this girl said to me, “Why don’t you take my photo?” I started to, and then she said oh wait, I just got a massage and I have stretch marks on my head. This pose kinda reminds me of the time I shot Julie Andrews, and she said “Oh I am so sweaty, and I don’t like my hair, 
Not Demi
Here are a few tireless volunteers that work the door each month, to brighten your day with a smile, a kind word, to relieve you of your $5 and give you a name tag so you are properly identified all night long. (sometimes it startles me when someone says “hughe so and so, such and such” and I think, how did they know my name?
I love Absolute Art, they have a diverese collection of wall art for you to choose from. I have a cute Speed Racer tin sign that I picked up a few months back, in my bathroom. Go Speed Racer, did I mention I am going to the Tribeca Film Festival today. The closing night movie is whalah! Speed Racer. I’m so excited.
GPPN is the Gay Philadelphia Professional Network. Every month you meet with your peers and you can put your business info here to promote it. I am just about to put my photo business cards on this table in a couple months, as I am planning to step up to the plate and really go into the “event photography” business, but don’t fret I will still be doing Philly Chit Chat, blogs and celebrity stuff. Just thought I would do a little event photography too.
Don’t forget to stop by Absolute Pop! next door. (I wish I had more wall space!!)
I ran into a few friends while waiting, here’s Wayne Bowman, who I’ve known for about a decade or so, but don’t see too often
Mike joined me and we ran into an old friend Rob. I think the last time we saw him was at a John Kerry event 4 years ago
Then there’s singer Steve Cohen and Mike
A fan of Chelsea’s who is hoping she will sign this ‘photo with’ of him and her. Tip: Next time bring it on a clip board, for two reasons 1) She needs a hard surface to write on, 2) the crush of the crowd will crinkle your photo and bonus tip, always look up when getting your photo taken, it’s a better shot
The stickers were flowing, I hear Hillary was picking up the tab at Bump
Rob Reiner shows up and gets in a political discussion with a bystander
Anne Dicker is there, right below the Larry Farnesse signs high up on the pole
Robert Gant tries to slip by but I caught up with him and snapped a few. He didn’t roll with the group, but instead was about 15 minutes ahead of the Chelsea & Gov group. I guess he was the warm up act.
Chelsea Arrives, we were expecting her to drive up, but she had walked down Locust towards us, with just a handler, and maybe an unseen bodyguard.
After a few words inside, it was off to the crawl. Somewhere along the way we lost Rob Reiner. So I was glad to have shot him at Bump!
Chelsea was amazingly gracious posing with fans whenever they asked
Shaking hands with people parked in cars, in alleys
The peps at Uncles see Chelsea coming 
Gov Rendell and Chelsea approach Uncles and Camac Street
She shook all their hands; when someone yelled out “Chelsea when are you going to run for Office,?” Chelsea answered that she would someday. (Can you say SCOOP!!, I wish I had my youbtube camera, but the MSNBC guy must have it on tape, see him in the background)
Hmm body language, stranger guy feels need to hug Chelsea; Chelsea not responding
But feels more comfortable with shaking hands with the masses. I felt like I had dogged Chelsea enough for the night and didn’t wait for her to exit Tavern on Camac
All in all it was a great night for me, Happy Hour with friends – At the G Lounge, thanks Matt for your hospitality; Dinner with Mike, Jeff and Bob and then Chelsea and friends to close out the night. To see one of my photos picked up, then stolen by other sites, and then another site create something hysterical, check out the story at 
