I have a wonderful friend that I have known for a long, long time, most of my life in fact. She's a "natural female" and one of the best people I have ever known.

She has lived through some tough stuff that would make most people wilt from childhood on; but she put herself through college, made a career in government, gave birth to and raised two kids as a single mom. In between she built a homestead from the ground up, worked on cars and mourned the death of a soulmate. She's an accomplished musician, toured with a band, and done some beautiful works of art. She is intense and embraces life hard. She's just as intense about friendship.

She has truly LIVED, and learned to love and respect herself in the process.

I suppose it's obvious that I really love her. I think she's beautiful. She taught me how to apply makeup and not break my ankles in heels. Oh how we both loved the Glam Era!

Her body is a testimonial to her life....childbirth, surgeries, on the job injuries, high dose steroids to save her life, BMX bicycle crashes (a hobby she shared with her son) and unfortunately a few scars from people who dared mistreat her. Her lovely face has no lines, her hair has no grey and her life force shows in her eyes.

She looks in the mirror and wishes time had stopped at 28. (Who doesn't???) I look at her and see things she has done that I could NEVER do, and things I would never DARE even try.

I want to photograph her draped in silk, or lying bare on the beach with the water rolling and swirling around and past her. I want to photograph the scars and make them beautiful.

She is considering letting me do it. And considering letting me post the pictures.

I want her to see herself as I see her. And if it happens, I hope other people will see her as I see her too.

A.