BLOGS

Every year a Wenatchee World photographer gets the chance to document what our Apple Blossom queen does in the community both as the queen, representing the festival and as a high school senior, nearing the time of separation from her family.

I look forward to this assignment because I like to see the reactions the queen gets as the role model to many small children. I like to see how the family reacts to the changes that come when their daughter/sister has a touch of stardom. Many times I've found that life goes on as usual - just a lot more hectic - and that is interesting in itself.

Through the years, I've photographed daughters being raised by single parents. Girls struggling for space in their bathrooms to put on makeup in the mornings. Athletes trying to balance participating in their sport with the time it takes to be the queen. It has been interesting - beyond documenting the festival queen - to study a glimpse of what life is like for a high school senior.

So I started following this year's queen, Margaret Robinson, on Tuesday afternoon and evening as she performed some of her royal duties. She began at Cascade Elementary school speaking at an assembly with her two princesses. She drew a lot of interested looks.

Then it was off to Blossom Valley Assisted Living to talk with the residents there.

The royal court ended up that evening at Grant Elementary School where they manned a prize table. One girl fought with her mother, thinking the royalty was too "girly".

Next week, I'll be photographing her as she works on her school's newspaper, at home, and possibly climbing Saddlerock - a favorite hike for her.

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