This is my nephew, Billy.
He officially became a member of the family yesterday when his adoption was finalized right here in San Antonio.
His name really is Billy Ray Sobhani. But I think I'll call him Billy Dee.
Billy's officially unofficial portrait.
After saying "I Do."
A corsage (?) from dad.
With his sister, Sara... or Jenna... or Gianna.Something happened to me tonight that doesn't happen too often.
There I was, shooting the heated action of a professional basketball game when one of the players came careening out of bounds and directly — I mean directly — on top of me! I've had lots of close calls before. There was the time Manu Ginobili fell over the photographer next to me and landed partially in my lap. But this time was different.
Who was it?
Shaq? Nope.
Tim Duncan? Nope.
It was none other than Katie Douglas of the WNBA's Indiana Fever! She drove for a layup and her continuation brought her right over me. I saw it coming, almost in slow motion. I stretched out my arm to try to stop her momentum, but she seemed determined to fall.
I thought about the irony of it all. Just a couple of weeks ago, I would have been sitting on the packed baseline of an NBA playoff game. In those situations, photographers sit side by side, knee touching knee. If a player came ouf of bounds, there's nowhere to go but into the photographers.
But tonight was a WNBA game. I was the only photographer on that side. An entire baseline sat empty, except for the one spot which I was sitting. And she fell directly into my lap. I think she likes me.
(photos courtesy of John Davenport, San Antonio Express News)
This is my niece, Aigerim. She became a full-fledged adult last week. In the Baha'i Faith, 15 years is considered the age of maturity, where a person becomes fully responsible for their own spiritual growth and actions. I think she reached that point well before 15 years, but that's another story.
Tricia and I went to her party at the family compound in Grainger last weekend and had a swell time. All her friends and family attended and we shared stories about Aigerim. It got me thinking about the first time I met her.
My brother and his wife adopted Aigerim from an orphanage in Kazakhstan about ten years ago. When she came to the U.S. she had an instant family, with four siblings to welcome her. Here was this little girl, removed from an orphanage and put into a family of crazies. Speaking a different language. In another country.
But man, did she smile! And always quick with a hug.
She's grown, as has her family. And she's still smiling. And hugging.
After all the talking and eating, it was time to do the Macarena.
Then things started getting crazy...
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