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Papu

There’s been an interesting thing happening lately…I’ve begun to watch people during their retirement years.  You know that far, far off time in life when you stop waking up to go to work for someone else everyday, all day…and instead begin to build into the things that you’ve been chomping at the bit to for a very long time…and what I’m seeing is intriguing me. 

Retirement becomes a time to pursue the passions that there just never was enough time for when raising families and building careers.  (One client, who is a snowbird, just shared with me that she and her husband go dancing several times a month during their winters in Florida, to music that was popular when she was young…now that’s what I call retirement.)

Sometimes retirement years means jumping into several bands and rocking like you did back in your teen years!  That’s the case for Dennis or Denny or Papu as he’s affectionately known to my family…this cool dude also happens to be my step-dad.  And by step-dad I mean the man who stepped into my life as a father in a way I never knew growing up, for which I am eternally grateful.

Papu is pretty new to this retirement gig and enjoying the freedom from corporate demands as he calls his beach house his home in Rehobeth.  He’s grown his hair out and plays in several praise bands.   I got strong Johnny Cash vibes during our time creating these portraits.  Last year he mentioned hiring me to photograph his much loved guitar collection.  I decided this would be a cool gift for the man who has stepped into the role of father in my life over the last 22 years. 

I joke with my clients all the time that my husband says it best when he told me one day, ‘the part of your brain that knows how to set reasonable limits on things is busted.’   Few statements have ever described me as well.  That’s just part of the DNA involved in the artistry of creating.  The ideas just start flowing and capping them is a real challenge.  What started as a guitar shoot evolved into creating portraits with Papu’s three youngest grandsons (my boys) and his dearly loved wife (my mom).   Five people who have taken a lion’s share of my heart through this life.

May these portraits be a beautiful tribute to the life of giving and loving you have led and that still continues so strongly in your retirement years Papu!  Keep rocking like there’s no tomorrow!  We love you!!!

  1. kayla parr says:

    Beautiful. A great man and father to many.

  2. Papu says:

    Unparalleled excellent work! I am grateful beyond words… A better gift has no man ever received…

  3. Mandie LeMond says:

    Very nice pictures of Denny… Love them all… And he is a very wonderful man. And plays a mean guitar.

  4. Judy Myers says:

    What a lovely tribute to a man who is cherished by us all and has filled our lives with love, joy, ambition, caring for us all with a heart of faith so strong he binds us together. He is the love of my life and I am thankful each day to have him as my husband. The most wonderful thing is that Jennifer, you have created something for him to cherish now, which often is too late realized. Thank You my talented loving daughter.

    • Jennifer DiDio says:

      amen! love you both and am grateful to have been able to step into this role! 😉

  5. Bill Stifler says:

    I love these pictures of my best friend in all the world.

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