Married to the Mister

Everyone knows my husband; everyone. He has run the only camera store in town for over 28 years. He is on commercials, teaches photo classes, does photo walks, and does what seems like a million presentations to most of the clubs in town. He also volunteers his photography to lots of non-profits and together we photograph a couple of weddings a year. He's also very handsome and that doesn't hurt the popularity one bit!

When we go out to eat, inevitably, someone from another table will come over to us, sit at the table after a curt nod to me, face Frank and say, "Hi Frank, I'm having problems with my new Canon Rebel." or "I couldn't get the exposure right when I shot some pictures of the snow in Lassen. What am I doing wrong."

Bye-bye romantic dinner!

Walking down the Promenade, someone will spot him from across the way and come running. "Frank, I was just going to see you! Can you tell me....."

In the mall, "Hey, Frank...."

At church a tiny woman in her late 80's or early 90's tugged on his sleeve on the way up to communion, "Young man, are you going to be at the store today, I've got some old pictures I need restored!"

Even when I had a knee replacement, the anesthesiologist came in, introduced himself to me, looked up and saw Frank and commenced with a long speech about an idea he had for some photo project.

Eventually, most interruptions end up being a shortened class of Photography 101, so the questioner's significant other gets tired of waiting and will come over.

Then the introductions. "Darling" or "Sweetie" or "Duncan" this is Frank  and this is his wife....uh...." and I fill in the blank with. "I'm Toni! Nice to meet you."

I am always "...and his wife!"  Always.

Sunday I made two presentations at two different churches in the north state. I can't tell you how weird it was (and pleasant) to have the priest introduce us with a "so please welcome Toni and her husband Frank!

So cool to be a real person and not an accessory!