life: full circle

This past weekend I was honored and humbled to bear witness to life full circle.

On Saturday morning I met my dear friend Kelley in Canton to photograph a benefit ride for Kylan Warren. There were at least 50 bikers there waiting to join in on the procession as it traveled from Georgia Power Headquarters in downtown Atlanta to Kylan's hometown of Ellijay.

Kylan was a 25 year old newlywed injured in a gas main explosion while working for Georgia Power. He received burns over 80% of his body along with other serious injuries and had been undergoing treatment at Grady Hospital for the past month. Sadly, Kylan passed on the eve of the benefit ride. What was to be a fundraising event became a touching tribute.


There were miles and miles of bikers. What struck me the most was all of the different types riders. They were all ages, young and old. They rode Harleys. They rode choppers. They rode crotch rockets. They rode luxurious Honda Gold Wings. It was a diverse group of people coming together for one cause, one person. It was awe inspiring.



I did not know Kylan Warren, but it is obvious that he was loved dearly by family, friends, and his community.

As if this tale was not tragic enough, earlier in the week one of the ride coordinators lost control of his bike during a test run of the route. He lost his wife and was seriously injured himself. After the bikers passed by Kelley and I rode down to the crash site where a memorial was placed in honor of Charlene Hyde.



If you have a spare moment, please include these families in your thoughts and prayers. I can not even begin to imagine the pain and hurt they must be going through.

It was very fitting that the first part of my day the sky was gray and overcast with light rain. And how symbolic that as the evening neared the sky cleared to blue skies and sunshine, just in time for a photo shoot I had booked. I was fortunate to spend the evening with a beautiful couple expecting their 3rd child.



On this day I celebrated a life lost and a life just beginning, full circle. It was a needed reminder that our time is short. We need to cherish every moment and make it count.