The fog wrapped its gray, cool arms around us this past week, sometimes kissing everything around it in frost. Watching winter’s cold breath hang in the air was sometimes difficult, especially when in the car and not completely knowing what was ahead :: and yet, the world was so still and pristine before warmer winds swept the fog away in the late afternoon. After one of last week’s sessions I took a little time to walk, center myself, and experience the quiet. The sensory experience of the stillness was powerful — feeling the fog hang so low, casting its cool, blue light, and experiencing the solace.

These images were part of that observation. I love their softness, the way the frost clings, and the feeling of peace. I still get those same feelings from them, even many days later.

He’s enthusiastic, with a smile and a laugh that can light up a room. She’s poised, professional, and has an amazing candor about her that inspires. Together, they’re campaigning to be elected President and Vice-President of the university’s student body :: and valiantly lead into the new decade, with energized vision and fresh thinking. Creating a time for greatness. JFK used it as his slogan during his 1960 campaign, and after spending some time with these two, their perspective and approach to leadership is incredible, much like the man who inspired the phrase.

We had an incredibly foggy morning–and so cold. But their enthusiasm and spirit for what they envisioned for the session, just like the values that their campaign stands for, never once wavered.

Danny and Annie :: Best of luck on the campaign! As a team, I’m awed by your incredible vision and inspired leadership, and it the student body would be so proud to have you as their SGA President and Vice-President.

Heartbreak.

Feelings of excitement and anticipation of building their family was suddenly turned upside down. I saw the grief in their eyes before the words even came past their lips.”We’ll name her Ella,” they said. “We’ll see her in heaven.”A chromosomal abnormality had stolen their child before they had the opportunity to experience the blessings of a full and healthy life with her.

I never forgot those moments. I will always remember seeing their faces when they arrived home without their baby. The empty feeling and heavy hearts that they still carry for her. We cried over her ashes, and the few physical representations they have of her – tiny, tiny fingerprints and footprints, each with an extra digit. Framed, admired, and never forgotten.

The power of love and strength has carried them through the years since, although now their hearts are forever changed with Ella’s memory. Bursting with activity, their home overflows with the young voices of two beautiful earthly angels – who know their sister only by name, until they meet again in heaven.

• • • • •             • • • • •

I have to say, writing this post isn’t easy. My heart aches for the families who suffer such devastating loss instead of anticipation. There aren’t words to describe their heartbreak, yet their story and their child’s legacy is one to be cherished and preserved. No matter how short their time on earth is. I’ve cried, dreamed, and spent quiet time waiting for the right words to surface in order to share with you how powerful my feelings are for this organization. And while I may stumble over the words, the message is clear :: God’s gift of life is so fragile. We forget that sometimes. In the busy-ness of creating our earthly life, in planning weekend events or wondering where to go for vacation; we forget that every moment, every breath, is a gift. That gift is never taken for granted in the hearts and minds of families who have sent one of their own to sing with the heavenly angels; especially when their child may have had only a short chance to experience life.

There are so many families who experience the sorrow and heartbreak of losing a child too soon. And during this time, it may be impossible to know what may help them heal their heart. At a time when words are not enough, there are images. Beautiful, sensitive images that can help ease the pain. While my words can’t help heal them, the images I can share may offer these broken hearts a way to mend.

A network of over 7,000 volunteer photographers have joined together as part of Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, offering families the ability to remember their child through sensitive and compassionate photography. At the family’s request, a private portrait session with the family captures gentle moments with their angel, and gives them the grace and healing that they’ll always be able to hold in their heart.

I’m so proud, humbled, and honored to have joined this organization. It’s a privilege to help a family heal and treasure their angel on earth, while Ella is smiling and dancing with her new friend in heaven.

I’m excited to announce the winner of the Grand Mère Village – Christmas in the Village giveaway!

Congrats to Pam :: the recipient of a portrait session from Cathy Mores Photography!

Oooh…isn’t the twinkle in her little sweetie’s eye so adorable?! Our winner was chosen at random from orders placed after the event. So exciting!

Very heartfelt thanks to Ann-A-Lee’s and Grand Mère Village for hosting a wonderful event, and to everyone who braved the bitterly cold evening!

By now you’ve likely heard of the devastation and unimaginable heartbreak occurring in Haiti after their massive earthquake. It’s so difficult to think of the number of lives lost and the exponential number of families affected, and so many ways are available to help.

Some great organizations worthy of your donations to help ::

• International Response Fund :: American Red Cross
  You can help the victims of countless crises, like the recent earthquake in Haiti, around the world each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, which will provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need.
• AT&T Text Messaging Donation
  In response to the horrific earthquake in Haiti, wireless customers of AT&T* (NYSE:T) can send $10 donations to the Red Cross International Relief Fund by sending a text message from their mobile device. Standard text messaging rates may apply. Types the word HAITI and send it to 90999. A confirmation message will arrive within a few minutes, to which the customer replies “yes” to finalize the donation. 100 percent of all money donated will be passed on to the Red Cross. Not an AT&T customer? Donate through Wyclef Jean’s foundation, Yele Haiti. Text “Yele” to 501501 and $5 will be charged to your phone bill and given to relief projects through the organization.
• UNICEF
  The organization has issued a statement that “Children are always the most vulnerable population in any natural disaster, and UNICEF is there for them.” UNICEF requests donations for relief for children in Haiti via their website. You can also call 1-800-4UNICEF.
• MercyCorps
  A team of emergency responders is arriving to assess damage, and seek to fulfill immediate needs of quake survivors. The agency aided families after earthquakes in Peru in 2007, China and Pakistan in 2008, and Indonesia last year. Donate online, or call 1-888-256-1900.
• Doctors without Borders
  DWB is already on the ground and has set up clinics to treat injured in Haiti. Your gift today will support emergency medical care for the men, women, and children affected by the earthquake in Haiti.
• Samaritan’s Purse
  This interdenominational organization is responding by providing critically needed assistance, including water, temporary shelter, blankets, hygiene kits, medical aid, and other essentials.

Your gift, no matter the size, will have an enormous impact on easing the unimaginable suffering of others.

Oh. my. WORD. It’s like the handwriting I never had in grade school. Get it here.

I’d love to hear your thoughts, your discoveries and inspirations after reading this. If you don’t want to publicly share, email me at hello {at} parallel39design {dot} com. – CM

• • • • •

23. Stand on someone’s shoulders.
You can travel farther carried on the accomplishments of those who came before you. And the view is so much better.

24. Avoid software.
The problem with software is that everyone has it.

25. Don’t clean your desk.
You might find something in the morning that you can’t see tonight.

26. Don’t enter awards competitions.
Just don’t. It’s not good for you.

27. Read only left-hand pages.
Marshall McLuhan did this. By decreasing the amount of information, we leave room for what he called our “noodle.”

28. Make new words.
Expand the lexicon. The new conditions demand a new way of thinking. The thinking demands new forms of expression. The expression generates new conditions.

29. Think with your mind.
Forget technology. Creativity is not device-dependent.

30. Organization = Liberty.
Real innovation in design, or any other field, happens in context. That context is usually some form of cooperatively managed enterprise. Frank Gehry, for instance, is only able to realize Bilbao because his studio can deliver it on budget. The myth of a split between “creatives” and “suits” is what Leonard Cohen calls a ‘charming artifact of the past.’

31. Don’t borrow money.
Once again, Frank Gehry’s advice. By maintaining financial control, we maintain creative control. It’s not exactly rocket science, but it’s surprising how hard it is to maintain this discipline, and how many have failed.

32. Listen carefully.
Every collaborator who enters our orbit brings with him or her a world more strange and complex than any we could ever hope to imagine. By listening to the details and the subtlety of their needs, desires, or ambitions, we fold their world onto our own. Neither party will ever be the same.

33. Take field trips.
The bandwidth of the world is greater than that of your TV set, or the Internet, or even a totally immersive, interactive, dynamically rendered, object-oriented, real-time, computer graphic–simulated environment.

34. Make mistakes faster.
This isn’t my idea – I borrowed it. I think it belongs to Andy Grove.

35. Imitate.
Don’t be shy about it. Try to get as close as you can. You’ll never get all the way, and the separation might be truly remarkable. We have only to look to Richard Hamilton and his version of Marcel Duchamp’s large glass to see how rich, discredited, and underused imitation is as a technique.

36. Scat.
When you forget the words, do what Ella did: make up something else … but not words.

37. Break it, stretch it, bend it, crush it, crack it, fold it.

38. Explore the other edge.
Great liberty exists when we avoid trying to run with the technological pack. We can’t find the leading edge because it’s trampled underfoot. Try using old-tech equipment made obsolete by an economic cycle but still rich with potential.

39. Coffee breaks, cab rides, green rooms.
Real growth often happens outside of where we intend it to, in the interstitial spaces – what Dr. Seuss calls “the waiting place.” Hans Ulrich Obrist once organized a science and art conference with all of the infrastructure of a conference – the parties, chats, lunches, airport arrivals – but with no actual conference. Apparently it was hugely successful and spawned many ongoing collaborations.

40. Avoid fields.
Jump fences. Disciplinary boundaries and regulatory regimes are attempts to control the wilding of creative life. They are often understandable efforts to order what are manifold, complex, evolutionary processes. Our job is to jump the fences and cross the fields.

41. Laugh.
People visiting the studio often comment on how much we laugh. Since I’ve become aware of this, I use it as a barometer of how comfortably we are expressing ourselves.

42. Remember.
Growth is only possible as a product of history. Without memory, innovation is merely novelty. History gives growth a direction. But a memory is never perfect. Every memory is a degraded or composite image of a previous moment or event. That’s what makes us aware of its quality as a past and not a present. It means that every memory is new, a partial construct different from its source, and, as such, a potential for growth itself.

43. Power to the people.
Play can only happen when people feel they have control over their lives. We can’t be free agents if we’re not free.