Marian and Brenna

[vaneramos]

Coincidentally, two friends have posted portraits of my daughters within 24 hours. clairenolen's photos of Marian were shot on Thursday and bitterlawngnome's photos of Brenna were taken yesterday. It's hard to put into words how I feel about these images. Both results are utterly breathtaking, in different ways. Mia's shots of Marian are slightly disturbing, but Marian has had some experience modeling, and I think the two of them had fun working together on this idea. This was Brenna's first formal photo shoot, but Bill's images are stunningly beautiful. On first glimpse of I thought, "These are some of the best portraits he has ever taken, but I can hardly be objective about that." So it moved me to see a couple other people, who don't know my daughters, make the same comment. I hope to post a couple different images from the series, favourites of mine, later.

These come at an appropriate time because I've been thinking lately, and even discussing with my daughters, the dynamics of our family. Our camping trip this week was the first time in a long while we've had to spend more than a day or two alone together. I'm impressed with how well we (and they) get along together and look out for one another. Yesterday a stranger inquired whether they are twins. As Brenna has recently caught up to Marian's height, they look as if they could be, and they have developed the strong rapport that often characterizes twins. Marian has had a strong sense of her identity for a couple years now. Sometimes it looks like Brenna might be copying her sister, but actually she is developing her own style and social behaviour.

Marian and I are both fairly intense. We engage in deep conversations about literature, music, relationships, religion, death, and even sex. Brenna is more easy-going. Her role is to keep things light. Sometimes she demands, "How did you two get talking about that?" And she has a strong sense of humour that can bring us back to the present.

Marian has boundless energy. After an afternoon of hiking she will want to go another kilometer, or after an afternoon of shopping she wants to visit one more store. Brenna gets tired, my hips get sore, and sometimes I have to call a halt. She sometimes calls her energy ADD, but it seems healthy to me. Her curiosity is also boundless, and her concentration is excellent when something deserves it.

They both love exploring the outdoors, poking around under rocks and in pools. They frequently spot little things that end up getting photographed and displayed in this journal. But one of Brenna's charming characteristics is that she likes to find a quiet nook, hollow or flat rock on which to sit and survey the world while Marian and I scurry around.

From me, Marian acquired a love of reading, and impatience toward vapid television shows. Brenna likes TV more, and has an incredible memory for recorded dialogue. After two or three viewings, I swear she can recite entire screenplays. But she is coming more into an appreciation for reading, too. One week this summer she read the entire Lord of the Rings.

I could go on, but will end for now by expressing my admiration for the friendship Marian and Brenna have forged, and their resourcefulness in becoming independent young women with strong ideas and interests of their own.