family | anya elise

Archives

February 14, 2012 by Anya Elise

Hazel: 1912-2012 || In memoriam

My great grandmother, Hazel, was visiting a relative’s family home many years ago. The son in the family had recently taken up body building and was excited to show his Aunt Hazel how strong he was getting.

“Aunt Hazel, look at my muscles,” he said, rolling up his sleeve.

“Look at my muscles!” she responded, surprising him with the strength her own aged arms still contained.

Some would say her strength came from her quart-a-day milk drinking habit. Others, from her stocky Russian heritage. Others still from her incredible faith.

For those who gathered in San Francisco this weekend to celebrate her life, the answer was almost certainly a combination of all the above.

My siblings and I flew out west on Friday to join my grandparents, aunt and uncle, and many cousins in honoring our Baba (short for babushka, which is Russian for “grandmother”). She passed away in the first week of February, only four weeks shy of her 100th birthday.

We grew up visiting her whenever we traveled to San Francisco to stay with my grandparents (which was at least once a year, sometimes twice), but I found out this weekend that we knew only the very tip of all this remarkable woman did in her life.

The stories we heard about her ranged from her victory at the shoe-kicking competition – two years running; her similar victory at the rolling-pin throwing contest – in other words, don’t make Baba mad because she’s got a good arm; her love for all things that involved sugar – so that’s pretty much where the rest of us got it; her family’s long involvement with the development of their community in San Francisco – they built the church that we held her memorial services in; her talent in fishing (see above photos: the top left one is an old newspaper clipping that shows her with a rare catch, the bottom line reads, “The five-pounder gave her quite a tussle.” I just love that); her awesome harmonica-playing skills; her never-failing compassion for everyone, including those who were quite ill – as she said, “I’m not afraid of germs!”

These are but a few of the memories everyone shared this weekend, but I think they highlight the kind of woman our Baba was. She wasn’t afraid to stand up for herself, take care of her loved ones and community, have fun, laugh, play, share her faith, share her strength.

We all owe so much of who we are to her, and she will be so missed.

Rest in peace, Baba.

Archives

January 20, 2012 by Anya Elise

Athenas with attitude || Guest post, pt. 2

And now, the exciting conclusion to our European Guest Post Fantastique, from the ever-fabulous, Emily. When we left off, she was detailing her 10 most favorite sights of London and Paris.

I’m sorry for the delay in getting this on here tonight. I meant to have this rolling first thing today, but I got caught up wrangling dogies (translation: I attended the National Western Stock Show today, more on that later).

So, without further ado, excuses, babbling or pause, heeeeeeere’s Emily!

(I clearly missed my calling being a nighttime talk show announcer).

_________________________________________________________________________________________

6. Shakespeare and Co.

Being a book nerd, this place ranked high in the top things to see in Paris. This place has such character – very much a hole in the wall. You should see the reading room on the second level – a maze of old books and places to sit.

And it is literally right across the street from Notre Dame. An ideal situation? I think so.

Continue reading →

Archives

January 19, 2012 by Anya Elise

wrong side of the street; different side of the ocean || Guest post, pt. 1

Today, for your reading pleasure, I bring you a little commentary from my dear sister, Emily, who recently had the fantastic opportunity to start her New Year off right…and travel abroad to London, and Paris. (Color me jealous.) I asked her to write a guest post for you all, because (1) She’s a wonderful writer and has some great observations and photos to share; and (2) You must be tired of me yammering away by now. You deserve a break! Two posts off for good behavior.

So, without further ado, here is Part 1 of Emily’s European Guest Post! Cheerio!

________________________________________________________________________________

“So what are you doing the 5th to the 11th?”

It’s funny what life can surprise you with. A typical day interrupted by a simple question and suddenly…

…you find yourself here. Looking at this.

And this.

We arrived in London bright and early on the 6th. The best way to get on local time is to force yourself to live by that time…not the time you’re used to, which says “it’s in the middle of the night” and “what on earth are you doing up, you crazy person?” Or so I’ve been told. As I wasn’t over jet lag until the day before we left, I’m skeptical. Anyways, for less than a week, we saw quite a bit – too much to go into here. Rather than subject you to almost 700 photos (I blame Anya’s influence), here are my top 10 favorite sights of London and Paris, in no particular order.

Continue reading →

Archives

January 16, 2012 by Anya Elise

the time line || my people

These are my people. You’ve met them before.

But you’ve never seen a picture of them put together in one frame before. And neither had I, until I saw this photo, shot by my aunt.

My aunt is a remarkable woman and one who has been an inspiration to me throughout the course of my life. In fact, she – a talented and passionate photographer herself – first inspired me to consider photography more seriously.

When we were all in the mountains of Colorado several months ago, she quickly snapped this photograph. And I’m very grateful to her for doing so.

When we’re young, photographs tend to be of our families. Sometimes childhood friends also grace the frames, but mostly, the snapshot memories are of your siblings and parents.

As we get older, other people start making appearances beside us, significant others. Timidly at first, then more frequently, then constantly, until their absence in such photos is more startling than their first introduction.

Then families grow, tiny humans are added to bundles in arms and then peering shyly behind legs.

And eventually, if you’re lucky, the people in the frame – in your family – number in the double digits. They are loud and smiley and perhaps a little out of hand, but content in their wildness.

You can then put the photos side-by-side-by side on your wall. A family tree time line. You can see the growth right there in front of you. Of the one, then another, then the more and the many.

And finally the whole.

These are my people, as they look right now. I can’t wait to see what we look like – and who else will grace our time line – years from now.

A very big thank you to my aunt for this photo. You have contributed more than a few photos to our time line over the years and I can’t tell you how much we love and appreciate you for that.

Archives

January 4, 2012 by Anya Elise

the zoo, exercising fun, and dinosaurs || weekend roundup

This weekend roundup is coming to you a bit late this week, the first week of the year. Before you assume I’ve gotten off on the wrong foot with my New Year’s goals and resolutions, let me assure you that is not the case.

No, no. Quite the opposite actually. I got off on the athletic foot. The exercising foot. The I-can’t-feel-my-foot-or-legs-or-arms foot because I’ve been working out every single day this year (sounds impressive until you realize that’s only four days so far…) and have lost the ability to move anything from sheer soreness.

Muscles I didn’t even know I have are cramped up and feel unusable. When I stand up I hobble around like I recently had all my major joints replaced and am relearning how to walk.

Isn’t exercising fun? People always talk about endorphins and “don’t they just make you feel great?” but I’m not sure my body was equipped with these elusive brain chemicals.

Nonetheless, I’m nothing if not stubborn and I’ve heard it said that one must commit to something for a week before it becomes a habit, so I’m in for the long haul. Which in this case is seven days.

Although, now that I think about it, I don’t know who told me that week-long-habit myth. Probably the same people who laud endorphins. It’s a conspiracy I tell you!

Nonetheless, this leads me to the next installment of the Weekend Roundup. Be patient with me while I will my weary fingers across the keyboard.

Continue reading →