Six Hundred and Thirty Days...

Six hundred and thirty days I will have spent with this beautiful woman below come Tuesday March 16th. I realize that I have had a photography blog for a while now and have yet to post any pictures of my significant other. Today is Miss Sarah Kathryn Teague's debut onto the Lesser Pioneer photo blog. I figured a photographic time line would only be fitting for such an occasion and have tried to provide you with one in chronological order. These photos range from the first summer we met all the way to one of the most recent ones I have of us. She has been one of the biggest blessings to be bestowed upon my life and is by far the most beautiful woman I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. Without further due and with enough of my bragging, I now introduce, my girlfriend, my love, Sarah Kathryn Teague.

Alabama Sky.

I spend a lot of time on the road. A product of Sarah and I's long distance relationship. I don't mind the day long drives. It is one of the only places where I can get myself to be still. There isn't much I can do but drive and think. No school work to distract me, no internet, most of the time no other people. Just myself, the radio, the Lord, and the road. I surprised Sarah this Saturday night. She had no idea I was coming and stared at me for a few minutes in disbelief through the window of her door when I got there. Seeing her always makes things better, and the moment I feel her embrace time always begins to stand still. The truth is, even if I hated driving and couldn't stand to be alone with myself for nine hours. She is more than worth it. I love her.

A Living Legend.

So begins the story. Ben Rector, an up and thriving musician and friend stopped by in Fayetteville to play a cd release show a while back at George's Majestic. I asked him if I could take a few photos during the concert (a few turned into a few hundred) and naturally he was happy to have me. The concert proceeded and ended with me on my knees most of the time squished into a two feet section between the audience guard rail and the stage. I learned a couple of things that night. One, there is a social stigma associated with SLR cameras. If you carry one you must be a "professional" or "with the band". The second lessons coincides with the last picture in this post. Ben asked me to take a picture of the audience from the stage as he and his band came out to do their performance. I have never in my life been so overwhelmed with nervousness, adrenaline, and shaking hands. Second, only to being mugged in Long Beach and the ensuing foot pursuit which ended with the reaching of a hand gun, I have never been so scared. It ceases to amaze me that performers thrive on such environments and make them look so easy. Never do I ever want to be on a stage of this magnitude ever again. Period. Ben, if by chance you read this. You put on one heck of a show and looked a little Fayetteville homesick in the process. We miss you man, see you soon.