One local woman has made memory making her business.
When all the gifts are unwrapped, when the snow melts off the ground, what we are left with from the holidays are the memories. It is the same really, throughout the year.
Cyndie Wade knows that, it is her business. She helps to make and capture memories.
"I do homes, landmarks, babies first Christmas, peoples' pets," she said.
Each ornament is a snapshot of your life to hang on your tree. Wade started painting them seven years ago.
"I was trying to find some gifts for my family, something interesting," she said. "I had the idea, 'why don't I make a house ornament for them, I'll paint their home on an ornament and give it to them as a keepsake.'"
As their friends saw the ornaments, the Christmas giving became a small business. Now she paints about two dozen ornaments a week.
"I love it, it's a lot of fun," said Wade. "I get very excited when I get to show them. It's nice hearing the enthusiasm in peoples voices."
She never went to school for art, she actually went for political science. But creativity is a language Wade knows well.
She has been a singer in a band since she was 15, with the band "Standing Room Only" for ten years and in a duo called "Spellbound" for just about the same time.
"I enjoy the diversity of what I can do," she said.
They sing at all kinds of events like parties and weddings.
"I love to see a bride and her dad dancing on the dance floor, the expression on the fathers face," said Wade.
Recently she performed in the holiday homecoming parade in Glens Falls. Her band performed "In My Life" for soldier Ben Osborn. He was her son's best friend but was killed in Afghanistan in June of last year.
"It was Ben's favorite song, I sang it at his wedding and when he died in June I sang it at his funeral," she said.
If you ask Wade why she sings, it's the same reason why she paints. It is all about the expression on peoples faces as they make a memory or see one captured.
The holidays are a time for giving of yourself. Wade tries to make that a habit all year.
"I think you are on this earth for a very short period of time and you should be the best person you can be while you are here," said Wade.
Wade is heavily involved in the Ben Osborn fund, set up in his memory. It helps kids in need in the community.
For information about ornaments you can contact wademedia@yahoo.com
