Dare I say it? Is spring finally here? Is summer around the corner? I looked through the Cheyenne 15-day forecast, and folks, I don't see that other "S" word. You know the one. It doesn't look like we will get our May Day blizzard this year! Yay! If that isn't something to celebrate, I don't know what is.

Admittedly, the last week and a half have been rough. I'm officially past the honeymoon phase of this "stay at home" business and this introvert misses people like crazy. I've been crabby, I've been weepy, and I am over it. I know this is supposed to be a happy post. I'll get there. But I'd be remiss if I pretended like I haven't been on a rollercoaster of emotions through this whole thing. I'm guessing you can also relate?

Two Saturdays rolled by the last couple weeks -- two Saturdays minus the weddings I was supposed to have been shooting. Photographing weddings has become muscle memory each spring, summer and fall. I've been doing this almost a decade now. Each year, I slowly get back into the rhythm of guiding people through one of the happiest, most meaningful days of their lives.

Yes, I document those days. But I also very much feel a part of each one of them. I'm completely addicted. Each day is filled with really big joy, a bunch of tiny side stories, lots of happy tears, and quite a bit of chaos. And man, I will miss them if we're still on this crazy train over the summer.

I mourned that potential loss this week. I'm working like crazy behind the scenes, trying to make this a smooth transition for my couples, but there is a big part of me that just needed to cry about it all. I cried for them, but I also cried for me, admittedly.

I've been praying for those of us who mourn even bigger things, like job loss or those who have to worry about putting food on the table. My concerns, relatively, are miniscule. But I'm sure we are all experiencing a bit of mourning for something in our lives. Whether it's a cancelled graduation ceremony, or a missed season of baseball or soccer, we all are sacrificing.

Sacrifice seems like a big word, but I think it's true, which brings me to what's getting me through these days.

1. Books

Speaking of sacrifice.....I have always loved World War II fiction, but this genre has been a lifeline for me over the last couple months. It reminds me that things could always be worse, and that humanity has survived and persisted through much, much bigger strife than we see today. WWII books remind me to always hope, no matter what happens. The ones I've been reading lately have been completely engrossing; I'm on a huge female war hero kick.

World War II Books

A couple to check out if you like this genre, both about badass female spies during wartime:

• The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
• The Alice Network by Kate Quinn

Here are a couple other incredible, utterly beautiful books about WWII that I love:

• All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
• Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford

Funny Reads

If you can't handle wartime right now (I know, I'm weird), here are a few really lighthearted, funny reads that kept me engrossed:

• Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple: This is a fast-paced tale of a woman finding herself and her creativity again after a big failure. The way she goes about it is exciting and hilarious.

• The Rosie Project by Graeme Samson: A light and funny love story through the eyes of the sweetest autistic man.

A couple other favorites....

• The Water is Wide by Pat Conroy: This is one of my all-time favorite books, suggested to me by my late dad, who was an English teacher for over 40 years. Pat Conroy writes with descriptive abandon about tide pools, nature, poverty and education. I love books about all of these elements.

• Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens: Along the theme of water and marshes...I read this one in about two days, which is fast for me. I'm the slowest reader on the planet. I could not put it down. After you read it, look up a bit of the author's history and fall into that fascinating rabbit hole. Holy moly.

• Cutting For Stone by Abraham Verghase: A book about the humanity of medicine...This is one of my all-time favorites. Exquisitely written and hauntingly beautiful, it's one that I can't ever forget.

Non-Fiction

I'm typically in the middle of about four books at a time. I try to make myself read non-fiction, but very few non-fiction books keep my attention. I tend to skim them and mine them for nuggets, but never truly read them cover to cover. One book was the exception -- The Boys in The Boat by Daniel James Brown. It's about the 1936 American rowing team that won gold in Nazi Germany right after the Great Depression. It's one of my all-time favorites.

Next on my docket....

Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance, The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah, Beartown and Britt-Marie was Here by Fredrik Backman (if you haven't read A Man Called Ove, that's another fabulous one of his), just to name a few. I've got about 20 in my "up next pile." I'll let you know how they are.

2. Puzzles

Obviously, I'm a little late on this one. Who hasn't completed about 6 puzzles over the last month? But I made a puzzle of one of my own photos with a company called Puzzles.Com and I'm SO excited about putting it together. It took forever to get here, but when things eventually settle down, I'll order more.

3. The Moth Podcast

The Moth is a light, amazing podcast full of stories from people all over the US. I love it, especially right now. Each episode is short and sweet, and the stories are amazing.

4. Storyworth With My Mom

If you haven't heard of Storyworth, go check out their website. I signed my mom up over a year ago, and she graciously, thoughtfully and lovingly wrote out her life story in response to questions like, "What was your dad like when you were a child?" or "What song makes you think of being a kid?" At the end of a year, they put all of her responses in book form. We will treasure this compilation forever, I can tell you that. Her responses were incredible. What better time to have someone do this than right now, while everyone is home and needing to think of happier times?

Ok, hang in there. Stay well. If you missed my previous "Feel Goods" posts, they are here and here.

PS - I'm booking sessions for May, including families, elopements, and cap and gown sessions (all from a distance). Get in touch to get on the calendar.