Last friday was a momentous day for me, it was my 55 birthday.

Now, normally I would prefer to simply let another year pass into the abyss of aging the American way,  but how can you let the birthday upon which you officially become eligible for senior citizen discounts simply pass like any other birthday? Would that be right?  So what I decided to do this year to commemorate such a milestone as this was to have a Grand Daughter at the same time!  That’s right I arranged with My oldest Son David, his wonderful wife Nicole (and with a little help from God) for their brand new baby girl Violet Grace Feliciano to be born on 10/30/09 my 55 birthday!

To be perfectly honest, I wasn’t sure how I was going to take to the title of Grandpa, or Pappito or whatever she decides to call me. At first all I could think of was the added stigma of old age that the title Grandpa has always carried for me. But let me tell you something, the feeling of holding the first-born child of my first-born child was something I was not prepared for. It was as profound a moment as I have ever experienced.  As I looked down at little Violet sleeping in my arms I was awash in memories and hopes, in dreams and regrets of loves thrown away, and the peace of loves new breath laying there in my arms. Here was the first child of my first child, I am filled with awe at the goodness of God.

And if there is one thing I know for certain it is this: If Violet is even half as precious, half as wonderful to raise as was David, then He and Nicole are in for such a wonderful life. A life full of laughing and crying, protecting and clutching and of letting go. And I know that those years will be over in what will seem like a single wave upon a shore and then my first-born will hold the the first-born of hers.

Drink it in!  With every fiber of your being enter every moment as if it could vanish in an instant because one day they will. Let it all seep deep and you will find that it is not only the good times that you will remember forever but if you let it, you will see it all as being from God’s good hand as he forms this new little flower of life into a beautiful hillside of blossoms for the world to enjoy.

God grant you all more grace then you think you need and the wisdom to know how to live it! I love you all and especially my little flower Violet.

photoblog159, originally uploaded by Feliciano Imaging.

Times and places like this really make me question American marketing. I mean, come on, how pure can anything be coming out of this place?

Hey, my new web for my photo business is now live. You can find it at… ready…wait for it… http://markfeliciaino.com. Let me know what you think.

These are my new business cards. Collect all ten!

Ole’, originally uploaded by mmlips.

I have a new photoblog up that went live a couple days ago. Sure would love it if you’d take a look and leave a comment or two. (Constructive please).

All my older shots are there as well as some new ones.