Through My Sister's Eyes Photography: What Will Your Legacy Be?

There are things that matter like paying your bills, and doing laundry, and being kind to your neighbor, and being a good citizen.

And then there are things that matter like telling your loved ones that you love them, showing your loved ones you love them, accepting others unconditionally, and finding purpose in serving others.

How lucky am I to be surrounded by people who demonstrate the former, but more importantly the latter “things that matter”? Last week, my better half and a team of other wonderful guys and gals put together a golf tournament, the proceeds of which went directly to MASD/ADS to benefit Special Olympians like my son. They gave of their time, their talents, and their resources so that this could be realized in their 10^th annual Duck and Run Golf Tournament. They are the “salt of the earth” and I am honored to call them my husband, my brother-in-law and nephews, their business associates and friends!

I had the pleasure of being a spectator at this event at Vistal Golf Club one morning last week. I also had the pleasure of hanging with my daughter as we made the rounds and visited with golfers and fundraisers taking pictures of “things that matter”.

The golf course was beautiful, the view divine, the weather was perfect, but the faces…they tell it all! These are the faces and images of the “things that matter”. I can’t think of anything I’d rather photograph!

Hole #1: “{D’}s Drive”. Golfers were greeted at the first hole by a Special Olympian who can drive the golf ball as straight and long as the best of them. They got to choose whether to play his ball or their own. And by the time they were back in their cart and on their way their lives had just been changed from meeting the ever talkative, always inquisitive and holds nothing back Mr.{D}…"play ball”!

Ambassadors and buddies making the rounds and hitting a few balls for the players.

And then there was this young lady! She and her parents sit at hole #15 (par 3) every Friday and raise donations to help buy uniforms for MASD/ADS Special Olympians. They were happy to come and do the same the day of the golf tournament. Miss{A} promises a sleeve of balls if their drive lands on the green, and if it’s a hole in one…a trip to Las Vegas! She explains to the golfers arriving at the hole that it will include a little extra spending money for gambling, meals…(with this she pauses) and then delivers the punch line “and liquor”! To this the golfer replies "You had me at hello" and hands her a $20! She is very articulate and engaging and if it’s any hint both her e-mail addresses have the word “diva” in them! Upon meeting my daughter and checking out the feathers in her hair she says, “Oh….they’re so you! I’m a diva too! Let’s take a picture….like this”!

How many rooms full of golfers do you imagine sing happy birthday to someone over lunch? None, you think. Well, as Mark explains it, anybody who hangs around Special Olympians for long, knows that anytime within a 3 week time period surrounding their birthday is fair game for singing and celebrating. And so we did. Ryan just happened to be celebrating his birthday ON the day of the tournament with about 104 golfers! He was grinning from ear to ear.

These are the men and women who donated their hard earned money to sponsor a hole, purchase raffle tickets or mulligans, play 50/50 and/or play a round of golf. It's very touching when they win a prize or cash and turn around and donate it back to the athletes.