Month: July 2018

In the winter of 2017, I started an aggressive quest to learn of my ancestry. I had paid my membership at Ancestry.com year-after-year, but never made the time to pursue a serious quest. The winter of 2017 was on.

I searched during most of my free time from work and training for the Boston Marathon 2018,  seemingly round-the-clock. I began to encounter interesting applications from possible ancestors to the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution. I was intrigued, wondering if I might be a Daughter of the American Revolution.

On January 18, 2018, I took the plunge and applied to the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

On January 29, 2018, I received an email from National Membership Chair, DAR. I was amazed by the rapid response.

On January 30, 2018, I received an email from the Registrar,  Western Shores Chapter, NSDAR, to meet and begin submitting and reviewing my application.

On February 4, 2018, my husband and I met with the Registrar and her husband at their home. We had a wonderful time together searching, discussing, planning and reviewing.

On March 3, 2018, I attended my first DAR meeting. I was deeply moved by the women, their stories, the history and the pageantry of the DAR. I felt like coming home. I continue to attend every meeting and look forward to the next time we will be together.

On July 9, 2018, I received the most welcome news that both my daughter and I were verified by the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. We will receive our National Numbers on August 5, 2018. My husband, daughter and I were ecstatic, as were the members and leadership of the Western Shores Chapter. I kept thinking that the women in my family who never knew but were so fearless would have been so happy.

On September 1, 2018, my daughter, Patricia Jean Winiecki, and I were installed as new members at the Western Shores Chapter of the DAR. 

On September 2, 2018, I placed 2 DARRC orders for the supporting document and application copy of our patriot, Captain John Wall. To my delight, I confirmed my own genealogical quest. My 4th great grandmother is probably Eleanor Boone. I have suspected this for months, but have never been able to confirm. Both DNA and genealogical records point in this direction.

On September 17, 2018, we received our beautiful insignia pins from Hamilton jewelers.

Journey On!

On June 8, 2018, my husband, Ken, and I drove from Los Angeles to Oceano, CA to attend Luis Escobar’s first ever photography class. We arrived knowing only how to point and click our iPhone Xs. We knew we needed to gain more skill as photographers, as we are runners and frequently find ourselves running with iconic runners in iconic places, like Katherine Switzer’s #261Fearless Team Niagara Falls 2018 and #261runsboston.

Luis’s powerful 2-day course thoroughly covered all of the essential camera skills: Exposure, including shutter speed, aperture, ISO sensor sensitivity and metering light, as well as depth of field, focal length, focus, color temperature and elements of a powerful image. Handouts, discussions, presentations, practical experience, interactions with other students and fabulous settings were of the highest quality and proved priceless. The fourteen students included iconic ultra runners, gifted photographers, race photographers and directors, and world-renowned travelers and photographers. The price of admission was an amazing bargain – worth every cent and more.

Since my husband and I were unable to book the Pacific Dunes Ranch & RV Resort, 1205 Silver Spur Place, Oceano, CA 93445, where the class was being held, we reserved the Plaza Hotel, 444 Pier Ave., Oceano, CA 93445. We checked in on Friday afternoon, June 8, 2018. The hotel was within a couple of blocks of the beach and within a few yards of a park with a lake full of waterfowl. It was a pleasant, quiet, clean, small room with that special feeling of staying at the beach.

On the morning of June 9, 2018, we drove to the Pacific Dunes Ranch to check out the digs before the class. We had the good fortune of spying Luis Escobar walking along the road. Luis invited us to walk with him to the dunes, only a block away. We were in for a treat beyond our imagination. We spent some quality and rare time with Luis that morning gazing at the pristine, ethereal dunes.

The class began later that day. Luis is a gifted, humble, patient photography coach for newbies like my husband and me, as well as a respected and trusted instructor for talented photographers like Tyler Tomasello.

We spent the early afternoon wrapping our minds around how to get that special shot. We then left the classroom and set out on our own to employ the lessons we just learned. Luis kindly lent my husband and me his cameras. The students, armed with cameras and a mission, set out like scouts, scouring the ranch for that perfect shot.

I found myself alone walking down a flowered trail. I was applying Luis’s techniques on a beautiful, yellow-flowered bush, when, to my amazement, a glorious butterfly flew right into my view and landed. I was mesmerized, feeling as if it was a visit from my Dad. The butterfly remained, slowly furling and unfurling its wings, right in front of me. Out of all the places on the ranch, it landed there. I was with it for the rest of the session. It never left. I finally, reluctantly returned to the classroom. It was still there.

That evening, Luis presented us with the most amazing gift of the opportunity to photograph a magnificent rider and horse in the surf at sunset. The venue was exquisite. The photos shot at this magical scene superb. It could not have been more perfect.

The next day, June 10, 2018, we walked together, single-file, to the awaiting dunes, silently showing off their glory at sunrise. Again, the students attacked this rare opportunity to capture this unparalleled scene, fanning out, committed warriors on a calling. Even a newbie like me would have had a hard time failing to capture a beautiful photo of this magnificent display on this magnificent morning. The photos Luis and the students later shared on social media stunned and dazzled those who were blessed with the good fortune of having seen them.

That afternoon, we debriefed, exhausted and still glowing from the unrivaled sunset and sunrise we experienced together and captured forever. This was a once-in-a lifetime opportunity. I will always treasure it.

Our next adventure promises to surpass even this magical time. Luis Escobar is hosting Adventure Photography Tour of Costa Rica, Sunday, November 11, 2018 – Sunday, November 18, 2018. Please do not miss this exquisite opportunity to join us! Visit #allwedoisphoto.

Keep Questing!