engaging, enthusing, grounding, loving, smiling, intoxifying, silly, brash, sultry, our modern goddess, keeper of rolandy, someone i cannot do without.

It was golden hour (the early one), and the hermit thrush keened its aubade as the breeze blew the mists from the air.

I was the assistant to the photographer's assistant on the shoot. I'd only just finished placing the thurible when the Photographer -- Vanessa -- appeared. She was kind and clear with her directions; the PA threatened to punch me in the throat once she was out of earshot.

"Don't worry about the PA," Vanessa murmured to me while he chased some Protestants and salamanders away from the set. "I've got some Polaroids of him in a tutu with a hedgehog. He'll do as he's told."

She smiled gently, my trachea remained uncrushed, and the photo was published.