Kyle Hepp

October 23, 2009

Just yesterday I got to write about photographing my mom and today I’m posting about someone else extremely near and dear to my heart.

Molly is my best friend. We met in college — toward the end, actually. I came back to University of Tampa, Seba in tow, and since I came in the middle of the year, I got assigned to a dorm with people that I didn’t know. For the first two weeks, me and my three other roommates didn’t talk much. Then my brother came to visit.

Anyone who knows my brother, Kelsey, knows that he’s a charismatic guy who can make friends with anyone. Up until that point I had been totally scared of Molly — she’s one of those girls that intimidates other females because she’s gorgeous and so smart and put together. But while my brother was visiting, one day I was out at class and I got back to find Molly, my brother and Seba sitting on my bed, watching Scrubs, eating Sonic hamburgers and laughing hysterically. Kelsey left but Molly and I stayed friends.

We lived together after that first semester in the dorms and she even came to see Seba and I get married in Chile — she flew out after the wedding sobbing on the way to the airport. Every time we’re in the U.S. we make sure to go see her or we all meet up somewhere, even if it’s only for a day. With most people, I say, we’re in the U.S., we’re in X city — come visit if you can, I’d love to see, but I already flew 6,000 miles from Chile so I’m not driving anywhere else. But to go see Molly, I’d drive to Alaska and back if she asked me to. She would do the same for me.

In August we met up in Chicago — and every time we see each other it’s as if no time had passed. Her boyfriend (at the time) told her that when we’re together we just disappear into Kyle and Molly land.

And now…this wonderful guy has proposed!!!! They weren’t engaged yet at the time of this photo shoot, but the whole time we were with them that weekend, I kept wondering when he was going to pop the question. It wasn’t a question of “if,” it was simply a question of “when.”

Ben found the right moment. He put the ring in a pumpkin and had Molly carve it. HOLY CREATIVE!!!!! I like Ben because he’s kind and cute and treat Molly well, but mostly because he’s 100% the right guy for my BFF. Ben makes Molly insanely happy, as you’ll below in the photos. And that makes me happy.

Just a casual game of pool…

But, Molly doesn’t mess around!

I wanted to post this picture because I love Molly’s ankle tattoo.

They’re perfect together.

These last two are my favorites. Because the light’s beautiful and so is Molly.

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October 22, 2009

My mom is my best friend. If there’s anyone I can tell anything to and NEVER be judged, I know it’s her.

I am already having a hard time writing this post because I’m tearing up. I’ve written about her countless times in my blog but I feel like nothing I say will ever truly put into words the amazing person that she is and the relationship that we have. So much of the good that’s in me is because of her.

Of course most mothers are devoted to their kids, but I don’t think most are as completely giving and unselfish in a way that’s happy to do it. If she’s ever resented my brother and I for the sacrifices (and there are many) she’s had to make along the way because of us, she has never once shown it.

Tim, my stepdad, is one hell of a lucky guy. She’s the best. She’s optimistic and good and happy and beautiful and I love her so, so, SO much.

Oh, and did I mention that HOT DAMN SHE’S FIFTY YEARS OLD!!!! Hallelujah, those genes live on within me (I hope)!

‘

We did the photo shoot at Haworth, where my mom works, and this session was actually a disaster. She was really uptight, I think because of being in the work environment. Her mood in turn, was making me snappy too, I think because when we’re together we’re too in tune — I cry, she cries, she laughs, I laugh. And then Tim, who’s generally extremely talented at making everyone laugh and feel comfortable, was trying to get her to relax and she was just getting angrier and angrier. Which Seba then though was kind of funny. Disaster, I tell you.

But, in the end, the results weren’t so bad after all.

I must say it again — HOT DAMN SHE’S FIFTY FREAKING YEARS OLD! I want to look like that when I’m 50. Heck, I want to look like that now.

Goofs. Pretty sure this was Tim’s idea.

Anyone who does a session with me is probably going to get their face cut off. Even my mom. It’s what I do.

FAVORITE. Looooove these chairs on the wall.

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October 20, 2009

This hilarious video about Italians versus the rest of Europe made me laugh so hard because just in the week and a half or so that we were there I observed a lot of these cultural differences — though fortunately not the beauracracy thing. But, after living in Chile, I can only imagine the situation in Italy!

Thanks so much to reader Erin for sending this my way!

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