Monday, January 29, 2007

Self Portrait

"Used Womb"





Early Birthday Gifts to Myself



Jeff took me out to dinner for my birthday tonight at a Japanese steakhouse. It was oh so yummy and entertaining since the chef cooks at your table. But, I had forgotten to put a new battery in the camera so we didn't get any shots. Instead, you get to see what I bought for myself in the 15 minutes we had before the bookstore closed. I am anxiously awaiting my chocolate birthday fondue tomorrow or actually later tonight since it is past midnight here.

13 comments:

Colleen said...

That's it. You win. I hereby award you my Best Caption award ("Used Womb"), as well as Most Willing to Bare Her Guts. Not to mention Most Inspirational. Yes, I was inspired just now to photograph the freakish amount of excess skin ~ twisted and scarred by six abdominal surgeries ~ that is my stomach. I don't want to ruin the surprise by sharing it here; you'll just have to wait and see it in person some day.

You're so cool, Dali. Glad you and Jeff were able to go out for your birthday. xoxo

LauraLiz said...

Dalissa, this is absolutely gorgeous. You've framed it perfectly, the light is perfect, everything. I'm practically speechless.

RedGypsie said...

Wow...I've thought of my belly that way but never would have thought to photog. it. And to think that yesterday, with my "expressions", I left out the one where I thought my nose looked weird. This a beautiful, loving photo D! (And Yo-Yo Ma is my favorite!)

SUSAN said...

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the "used womb" photo. Wow. Speechless, almost.
The photo says "LOVE" to me.

Susan

Ampersand said...

Beautiful. Have to agree with Susan, the photo speaks so much love...

Glad you had a good BD dinner.

Sandie said...

You are my hero! Your photos are akways honest and beautiful.

Unknown said...

That is the winner in my book. Utterly honest and also so generous. Gorgeous.

Now I have a whole different feel for self-portrait. You've opened a vista for viewing myself in a fresh light. Gorgeous.

Dalissa 365 said...

Thank you, thank you everyone... you are all too kind.

Nikki said...

wow. Dalissa I am amazed. I am impressed. I am speechless. Just a perfect shot with a perfect caption. I have to agree with everyone else. It is gorgeous - absolute artwork. Coolest thing ever.

Jess said...

Hopefully this will make sense, but the first picture made me feel a little less like a "woman" for having only had two kids, in that it made me admire you fresh for your motherhood and 'bringing forth' your family. A used womb is a good thing :)

Dalissa 365 said...

I would never want to make you feel less like a woman, Jess. You BIRTHED two kids! And, if you didn't know me and know that I had five kids maybe you would have felt more empowered as a woman? Either way, it's interesting to see how different people react to the photo. And, it really is only a physical sign of what it takes to be a mother. What about the mothers who haven't actually birthed their own children but have adopted or fostered them? Perhaps their womb doesn't show the stretch marks but their hearts do. I wonder how to convey that meaning.

Jess said...

You're right Dali, about not being less, it was a fleeting feeling that came up....I wanted to share it only because it came out of respect? How about I give up trying to type it and tell you tomorrow.

I'm glad for your counter though, because I never meant it to cheapen adoption or being a mother to "only" a few children.

my15minutes said...

Dalissa, I'm late to the game because I didn't visit blogs yesterday, but I've gotta chime in how cool your self-portrait is. You did an amazing job of conveying yourself, inside and out. What a thought- ful photo, and thought-provoking. Wow.