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This past Thanksgiving I had the opportunity to spend it with my amazing roommate and her family. It was such a wonderful experience to see how they celebrate this “cookie-cutter”American holiday. In my eyes it was all pretty typical, except a few of their family traditions that I was introduced to. I think my favorite moment of the whole day was when my roommates grandpa was dancing with his daughters and granddaughters. The music made everyone clap and start dancing as if they had never done it before. I would have loved to capture the joy and timelessness in this moment that they were all in. The smallest little niece had such a sparkle in her eye, looking up at her family as her biggest heroes.

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New Yorkers and visitors enjoy an afternoon of ice skating out at the Rink at Rockefeller Center, NY. March, 2014

Photographs Not Taken #4

I remember my first time experiencing the Fall season up here in Sonoma County. It sounds stupid, but I am from Los Angeles and there is a lack of season change that happens down there. The beauty in the nature is something that is just not appreciated enough. I might be biased because I did not have the option to witness it growing up. One day freshman year, I was walking down one of the main streets and through campus, almost late to class so I was in a bit of a hurry. There were other people walking around and on their own route for the day. I walked by the library and leaves were just falling and floating softly in the wind. At first I honestly was annoyed because leaves were falling into my bag and all over me, but then I just stopped and smiled because it finally felt like Fall, it was pure beauty. That is one picture I would have loved to not only have of the leaves falling, but maybe of my stupid self smiling at the leaves falling around me – oh, and my teacher ended up being late to class too.

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Seattle Mariners pre-gaming with redbull, game vs. Oakland A’s at O.co Stadium. September, 2015.

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This past weekend was the end of October, therefore it was Halloween. Usually I am not one to dress up and celebrate this holiday, but because I had a couple friends come to visit, we decided to go to Friar’s on Friday night just to say we did something to celebrate. The Cotati bars are not anything special unless you are there with the right people to make it fun and exciting. At one point in the night while we were all dancing, this older woman (probably like 75 years old) comes out to the dance floor all decked out for the holiday. My friend’s and I could not believe what we were seeing. This woman was in her element. She was so happy to be out surrounded by all types of people dancing and having a good time. I would have loved to capture one moment when there were a couple of (probably) 25 year old men out on the dance floor holding her hands and dancing to the song “Hot in Herre” by Nelly, it was absolutely classic.

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Couple fishing on a relaxing Sunday evening in Monterey Bay, September 2015.

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Surprising my family with a visit home is one of my favorite things to do, and it does not happen as often as I would like.

Towards the beginning of last June, my little sister was coming home from her first year at Seattle University and was so mad at me for not being back in Los Angeles to welcome her home and kick off summer. This same weekend was also conveniently my mom’s birthday. So I called my dad and told him I was booking a trip home to surprise the both of them.

I wish I would have taken a picture of their faces when I went with my dad to pick them up from LAX. They were so surprised and happy when I popped out of the trunk of my dads Expedition. I purposely did not take a picture of the moment because I wanted to live it and I knew that I would be able to vividly remember the emotions that were felt that day.

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“The Calm Before the Storm” Big Nite 2015 welcomes returning and incoming Sonoma State students to a night of entertainment to bring on the fall semester. (Sonoma State University, August 2015)

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One photograph I wish I would have taken was towards the end of summer at my cousins wedding. The couple had met at school in Santa Clara so naturally, that’s where they were married at the Cathedral on Santa Clara’s campus. The one moment I will always remember vividly was the day before the wedding when our whole family took over the pool deck at the hotel we stayed at in downtown San Jose. It was a perfect day out, beautiful weather and everything. Also being around family where everyone is happy and has the biggest smile on was a priceless moment. I should mention also that the entire Manchester United soccer team was staying at the hotel; they thought they were taking it over for the weekend, but they were sadly mistaken. The 200 of us definitely ran the show.

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San Francisco “Hippie” shows his true colors at Pride Parade. Bay Area communities congregate to celebrate national equal marriage ruling in June, 2015.