Real: Stories by Shelley Malcolm Photographs by Terilee Dawn Ouimette

By Shelley Malcolm

Words and photos to inspire, encourage, and affirm . . . Shelley Malcolm uses the image of hands to reveal much of what we have in common, as well as, like fingerprints, that which makes each of us completely unique. The pages of REAL tell the stories of actual people who are comfortable with sharing their dreams and triumphs as well as their imperfections, losses and failures. These stories, paired with dramatic and honest photographs by Terilee Dawn Ouimette, present a refreshing and tangible new perspective that can change the way the reader might see his or her self. REAL allows us to not only forgive that which may seem ordinary, have disappointed us, or caused shame . . . and instead embrace that which does not pretend to be anything but REAL.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Dec 22, 2010
• ISBN: 9781481719094

Shelley Malcolm

Shelley Malcolm has been on the creative path for an entire lifetime, be it restoring a vintage chapel or home, sculpting and painting, or designing and building for theater or film. Her projects share inspired origins. REAL is no exception. In its concept she discovered a perspective that further armed her with a sense of freedom and courage toward new challenges. With adventures like hiking the Inca Trail in Peru, Mt Whitney, water skiing through a school of basking sharks, and recently learning to jet ski on the ocean, her life continues to be full. She is a mother of four, a marathoner, world traveler, dental hygienist, church and community volunteer and activist. Shelley is co-owner of La Perla del Mar Chapel in Shell Beach, California, which has become a destination for weddings, surf films, and other events drawing guests from all corners of the world. Terilee Ouimette has loved art, people, and traveling from a very young age. Photography has been a great medium to combine her passions. She loves a good adventure, whether it is in Asia, Europe, or the Middle East. She has walked ruins dating back to Biblical times; eaten snake in Vietnam, ridden slides down the mountains of Switzerland and snowboarded in the beautiful Rocky Mountains of Canada where she grew up. She runs Terilee Dawn Photography, hates cooking, loves her Converse shoes and could read all day. She has been married for five years and cant wait to see where life takes her next.

Book preview

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Stories by Shelley Malcolm

Photographs by Terilee Dawn Ouimette

AuthorHouse™

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.authorhouse.com

Phone: [phone]

© 2011 Shelley Malcolm. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

First published by AuthorHouse 1/13/2011

ISBN: 978-1-4520-5671-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4817-1909-4 (ebk)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2010918960

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any Web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Photography by Terilee Ouimette

Layout design by Live Artfully Productions, LLC

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Real isn’t how you are made. It’s a thing that happens to you . . . Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don’t matter at all because once you are Real, you can’t be ugly, except to people who don’t understand.

—Skin Horse to the Velveteen Rabbit,

The Velveteen Rabbit, Margery Williams

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, tor they will be filled. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Bless are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:3-10 NIV

Contents

Introduction

Courage

Ceo

Kazuo, Vard, Brycen

Caesar

Richard

Jamaine

Hope

Ken and Mary

Franco

Chet

Vicky

Dave and Fran

Renewal

William

Mary Ellen

Laura

Chung

Dean

Joan

Work

Amy

Douglas

Tom

Brian and Terry

Shell

Candy

Dreams

Genae

Aaron

David

Meredith, Kelly, Carly, Trevor and Mike

Robin

Balance

Betty

Lynn

Jane

Cathy

Danny

Wisdom and Acceptance

Gladys

Heather

Carol

Eileen

Sheila

Kallie

Inspiration

Lois

Daniel

John and Anne, Lloyd and Sandy, Kris and Dana

Kim

Randy, Patty, and Erica

Purpose

John

Suzanne

George

Terri Lea

Eve

Life

Steve

Jonny

Jim and Garin

Peggy

Robert

Ray

Love

Woody and Kay

Pam

Diane

Nick and Elizabeth

Bob and Shirley

Epilogue

Acknowledgements

Introduction 

Shelley’s Notes:

For as long as I can remember I have been ashamed of the condition of my hands. Shaking someone’s hand made me feel uncomfortable and vulnerable. It was as if my hands might reveal a secret. The weathered cracks, the rough skin, now the spots. The embarrassing thought of having a manicure filled me with humiliation . . . I would never have lovely hands like some of my friends.

One morning, I woke up from a dream I might describe as a reality slide show of great character and life stories . . . images of dozens of people that I admired. Suddenly, like a personal confession, I was relieved to know we all had something in common . . . the truth our hands tell about us. At that moment, it became clear to me that a deep beauty exists in the honest stories our hands have to tell. Whatever their weathering, in their tenderness, their task, their injury or age, there is beauty.

This book celebrates many amazing people, and their stories celebrate the beauty of authenticity, honesty, hard work, true caring, and devotion. I hope the portraits of their hands and their stories will reveal to the reader an awareness of his or her own genuine beauty. Enjoy and revel. These are real people, reminding us that each of us has a chance to be real and claim our own beauty.

Terilee’s Notes:

The moment Shelley told me about her vision I knew that it was something I was suppose to do. I had been praying for over a year that the Lord would use the gifts He gave me in photography for something greater than my own ambitions. I wanted my images to inspire people to love, live, feel and appreciate the unique that is often mistaken for the ordinary. I have often admired hands; the first real photographs I ever took were my dad’s. For me, hands have always told the story of how amazingly different our lives are.

It has been a blessing to be a part of something so amazing. Shelley and I walked into the unknown of where this project would take us, and it has changed me forever. I have learned to have courage to understand the deeper side of people. Shelley taught me that. She has been blessed to know people from all walks of life and sees greatness in each of them. She knows their hearts. I hope that through the written and visual stories told in this book, you will find the courage to love deeper, embrace fully, and take the time to get to know those in your life. Everyone has something to offer and so often we don’t take the time or courage to seek it out.

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Affirmation:

About the same time as I had this vision and confession, I made a visit to our Minnesota family farmland and stayed with my Uncle Dave, nicknamed Milty, who is still a handsome, and very spirited eighty something. He began his challenge with memory loss months before this visit, and changes were becoming more noticeable as time passed. His family had warned me of the signs and to prepare for surprising limitations.

As younger men, Dave and brothers, Ray (my dad), and Bob, had reputations as hard working and incredibly bright, creative thinkers. In fact, Dave had invented and patented several machines and tools that have been used in the tank trucks industry. He also created lifesaving, warming blankets that are used in every hospital today. As a result of his brilliant ideas and inventions, he was able to retire at a very young age; however, he continued to create and design and build. He would build furniture for his family and friends. He always led the crew whenever the church needed construction. He built his mountain cabin from the raw timber of his land. He was never bored.

It was on the last night of my visit that he took me into his shop where the magic happened. The walls were lined with lumber, tubing, and electrical materials. There was a collection of drawings, a few frames, a hope chest, and stools waiting to be finished. Tools were everywhere. It was an organized wonderland of possibilities

Reviews for Real

[twink_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I just knew when I saw the cover of Real by Shelley Malcolm and Terilee Dawn Ouimette that I wanted to read it. The photo made me immediately just stop. I thought of my ninety six year old grandmother's hands - holding them and feeling the paper thin skin and the delicate bones. But also the strength, the love and the life that those hands had experienced and the caring she imparted to those whose lives she touched.I often find myself at work in the library looking at patron's hands as they pass their books across the counter to me to be checked out. I'm sure they hold the key to a world of stories.Shelley Malcolm had the idea that " a deep beauty exists in the honest stories our hands have to tell. "Whatever their weathering, in their tenderness, their task, their injury or age, there is a beauty." When she approached Terilee about taking the photos for the project, Terilee was excited - "I wanted my images to inspire people to love, live, feel and appreciate the unique that is often mistaken for the ordinary. For me, hands have always told the story of how amazingly different our lives are."Each picture of hands is accompanied by a story written by Shelley letting us know a bit more about the subjects' lives, hopes, dreams and anything else they cared to share. I found myself reading Real in small bits. First I would look at each photograph and absorb the unspoken story, then read the accompanying words. There are various 'chapters' - courage , hope, work, dreams etc, but each and every one of the sixty stories had a message. I found the stories of hope and perserverance the most moving for me. People from every walk and stage of life are represented. I found myself wishing I could meet with some of them to carry on the conversations.Real is a unique project and a truly moving, inspirational and poignant book. Take a look at your own hands - what story would they tell?