About three or four times a year, I need to take short getaways from my daily routine in order to feel recharged… refreshed.  Some of these “getaways” I’ve earned (as in vacation days).  Others are actually working getaways, but still allow me to get the break I need from the monotonous 8-5 (or some days 8a-12a) here at home.  Either way, it’s time that I’m not putting in 40 hours for “the man” and then thinking about how to grow my business, expand my customer base, and become more successful in photography to land my first destination wedding.

For years, my family and I have ventured to my favorite place on Earth for week long stays—Concan, Texas.  We usually stay on right the Frio River in our travel trailers, but sometimes in a cabin.  There’s usually no less than three families that make the journey together.  This year was no different.

I don’t know for sure how long I’ve been visiting this Heaven on Earth.  But I do remember one of the first times I went, I tried to push my mom off of Old Baldy in order to get a perspective of how high we were.  Yep, right off the edge for the sake of learning.  I know that you’re thinking I’m some devious, wicked person.  But, I was only seven-years-old or so at the time and I didn’t want to hurt her… I just wanted to rationalize how high we were.  In my mind, I could shove her right over the edge, watch her plummet to the riverbed thereby calculating how high we were, and then meet up with her on our way down.  I do remember that I scared the absolute BAJEEBERS out of her which resulted in a good ol’ fashioned butt whipping… right there on top of Old Baldy.

Ata-Girl Photography Co. | Old Baldy in Concan, Texas

I didn’t try to push anyone off of Old Baldy this year.  (No one will make that hike with me.  ???)  I have since come to understand heights.  But, I did return ready to tackle the world, recharged and refreshed… (insert very long pause here) …until the camper tire blew… and we had no tire tool… or jack… or phone.  Just kidding about the phone.  My plumbing partner (another story) came to rescue us and brought tools… and then someone broke a lug nut off in the tire tool… and another had to be fetched… and it ended up taking about two-and-a-half hours to change the flat… or missing tire as my daughter referred to it when she exclaimed, “Mom, the tire fell off!”

Ahhh.   Vacations.

Ata-Girl Photography Co. | South Texas Professional Wedding Photographer

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