Today is the birthday of someone very dear to me and Brian—and to many of you too! If you haven’t yet, meet the glue that keeps our company together! She is the beautiful Genie Ohashi, and it’s her birthday today!
Genie’s official title with Me Ra Koh Photography Inc is the company’s “Touch Point”. I found that our busy travel schedule made it tougher and tougher for me to connect with our clients and readers as much as I wanted too. I knew I needed someone who could be a warm voice, offer encouragement, and touch those who reach out to us when I couldn’t myself. Can that person even exist? I’m happy to say, “YES! She does exist! And her name is Genie!”
Genie has been with us for over two years! Her warm and supportive spirit has blessed me and Brian in countless ways. The list of how she helps us is endless! She responds to emails for me (as herself, not me ;)) when I’m travelling because she knows how important it is for me to feel like people are heard and appreciated. She hand holds our brides through the album process. She mentors our three SOAR! Recipients. Did you know she is also the master behind organizing ALL the finest details for every workshop. But not only does she organize our workshops, she makes a personal impact on the women attendees before they even show up. Each time we arrive to a new city for a new workshop, there are always a handful of women who tell me their own personal stories of how much Genie’s interaction with them has meant. The list goes on and on. Bottom line, Genie is a life giver—her very heart breathes life and joy into people.
Today’s blog post is dedicated to this beautiful woman. Brian and I feel so fortunate to have Genie on our team.
I also wanted to open up the mic to all of you! Will you help me celebrate Genie today? If she has blessed you in some way, big or small, will you share your story by posting a comment and letting her know how much she means?
To our dearest Genie, how did I ever survive without you!! Brian and I love you and are so grateful for you. The world has no idea what you put up with in working with us! 🙂 You are to good to us, and we celebrate you in our lives and in this community! Have the BEST day Genie! You deserve it!
xoxo,
Me Ra
p.s. Genie, finally…the photo. 🙂
Have the hapiest of birthdays Genie! While we were disappointed that you did not join us for the NJ Confidence workshop, your presence was felt all weekend. Thanks for doing such a great job putting it together!
I am so grateful for the support that you give to all the women that are touched by you! I am happy to have (over the internet) met you! And VERY much hope to meet you in person some day!
Happy Birthday Genie 🙂 I Feel like I know you just from worksop e-mails and hearing your name a million times that whole weekend. Hope Me Ra and Brian are baking you a fabulous cake!
Happy Birthday Genie, Hope you have/had a wonderful day.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! I have only had one small contact with Genie but that was all it took for me to know what a wonderful woman she is. I hope you have a fantastic year, Genie!
Genie!! You are such a blessing to everyone! Have a very Happy Birthday!!! Love you!!!!
Genie! She does, in fact, exist! She even has a birthday!!!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY GENIE!! Who couldn’t love a woman who in her first email interaction asks – “what is your sign?”
I hope you have a wonderful, wonderful day full of hugs, love and chocolate!
Gretchen
I love you Genie! I’m so glad I met you at Discovery last year. Have the most joyful of days today!
Happy Birthday Genie!!
My life has been blessed by “meeting” you too! Thank you for all your kindness and for all you did to help me get in on the conference in NJ 🙂 I too hope to meet you in person some day. Have a wonderful birthday!!
~Debra
happy birthday, genie! thanks so much for all of your help and encouragement with the OC Workshop a couple months ago! it was always so exciting to receive your emails, and i really appreciate you helping all of us girls to bond before we even got there 🙂 you’re awesome and i hope you have a great day! you deserve it!
Happy birthday “Genie” haha. Hope you had a great day!
Genie, you are so loved!! Happy-happy BIRTHDAY from Pasci and Blazey too!
Awwww Genie! Look at your beautiful face up there! 🙂
A very happy birthday to you!!!
I thought maybe you just went out of your way for my family to be able to attend the OC workshop… but it sounds like you are a GEM all the way around to everybody. Many blessings back to you sweet lady! 🙂
Have the happiest of birthdays Genie! I too exchanged many emails with Genie post-workshop this last fall and she was gracious, patient, and kind throughout! I very much appreciated it Genie, have a great one, you DESERVE it! =)
Happy Birthday Genie! You were so gracious to help me out when I needed it and I will be forever grateful to you for that! Hope you have a fabulous day- today and always!
Wow – I’m surprised, stunned and touched! You’re too MUCH Me Ra! What a great gift! 🙂
I’m sure you all know what a privilege and how much fun it can be to ‘work’ for this fab duo. I was thinking earlier what a blessed birthday weekend I’ve had – and then saw this. I thoroughly enjoy all the interactions with each and every one of you. Keep ’em coming! The changes and growth I get to witness is heartwarming – brides, workshop attendees, SOAR!, and those who watch more quietly in the background then ROAR in with an AMAZING story. I’m a lucky ‘tag-a-long’ who gets to sprinkle a little magic fairy dust where its needed. Thank you EEEEEVVVEEEEERYONE!!
a side note: I do have a good chuckle now and then when someone writes in that they’re concerned they’ll be the oldest at the workshop or can’t believe you’re about to turn whatever the next mile marker is…born in 55, I’m now turning 55 (yep, it’s a wild thing to see in print :D) so I think I have you ALL beat! But I want to say that when I turned 50 that I said I wanted this to be my BEST DECADE YET! I rode 62 miles yesterday on my road bike, had an amazing party and many, many things keep getting better with age. Yep, even THAT! 😉 So whatever one thinks, it’s not ‘all downhill from here’. it’s truly uphill in many, many, MANY ways! Thank you for the good wishes (to Pasc & Blazie too) ~ much love, Genie p.s. you have NO IDEA how many times I’ve teased Me Ra about finding a photo of me…
Happy Birthday to beautiful woman who is an inspiration on how to live your life- I just read your post and am so amazed and impressed!
You will always hold a very special place in my heart as the first person who reached out to me during one of the hardest times in my life. Without knowing me you sent me encouragement and I could feel your love all the way across the country! I joked at the NYC workshop that you better be real- because you know more about my life than some of my closest friends here! Thank you for everything you do! 🙂
Happy birthday, Genie! You are absolutely wonderful and I can’t imagine just how many ways you have improved people’s lives. Certainly you have helped me out more than you know. You share your birthday with several of my friends and family and I was hoping to add my new baby to the mix, but it wasn’t to be (well, a few hours left…).
Genie,
How great to see you acknowledged here! You remind me how important all the small details are — especially with people. You have such a knack for knowing what people need — and providing it.
Much love,
Mary
YAAAAYYYYY GENIE!!!! I haven’t ever met you and I still know from what little interaction I have had that you are AMAZING!!!!
I hope you had the best birthday ever.
Happy Birthday!!!!
You are forever young! Yay, Genie!
Genie – 55? Seriously?
Um… I’ll have whatever she’s having!
Hope you had a great day filled with memories!
Genie,
Happy Birthday to you, cha cha cha
Happy Birthday to you, cha cha cha
Happy Birthday dear GEEEENNIIEEEEE cha cha cha
Happy Birthday to you!!!!!! cha cha cha … a littttllllee laaaate (sorry)
I hope your day was wonderful warm and all things beautiful just like yourself!
You are an inspiration and joy to those who have the privilege to meet you, Genie. Please know that you leave a positive impact wherever you go. If I could have figured out how to get Chelsie’s image in here of you on that rock, so strong and beautiful, I surely would have so that other women could see that their 50’s are something to look forward to and not to fear!
Love ya girl!
Addie
From one Jeannie to another Genie,
Happy birthday! And yes, you too have touched my life and I want to say that my admiration for you has just been amped up about twenty notches for putting your real age out there. You go, girl. That photo of you had me thinking…well, I don’t know, I didn’t even think ‘age’ I guess I just thought ‘pretty’. When you wrote “…born in 55…” I had to scroll back up to that pretty face of yours in disbelief. I love your attitude and I share it. 62 miles on the bike? Oh yeah, you go. I wish I could have met you in Orlando but…there’s always another time. Here’s hoping… and I hope your birthday was lovely.
P.S. did anyone notice that I have Me Ra in my eyes? Love you Me Ra!
Happy birthday!
May this be one of your best years!
Dear Genie !
First of All ,Warm regards to you and Wish you a beautiful life ahead and forever ,Happy Birthday Sweetheart !
M very pleased to see ur picture as i always wished to see you ,you are as beautiful as Mera !
thnks Mera for sharing her picture with us !
lots of love
denu
It’s late … but happy birthday Genie. Praying your year is filled with the goodness that you continually sow into others – be blessed & filled!