This Mother's Day, I went to church and then came home to wait to hear from my girls with their plans for the afternoon. Heather & Isabella came by and ate lunch (Peter is working today). Amanda, Greg and Tessa came a little later and we visited until it was obvious that both girls needed to go "nite nite." Once they had left, Arles took a nap on the couch and I began thinking about the huge effort it takes just to get people together sometimes. Then I realized that I had totally forgotten to take any photos of anyone for Mother's Day, and this so upset me since it was Heather's first Mother's Day.
Holidays, any of them, only come one time a year. If we don't make the best of that one event, we must wait 364 days for it to come back around. So many things can happen in 364 days. We could be leave this world to be with our God, we could go on a diet that really works and weigh a beautiful 125 pounds again, we could build a new home and move into it, we could become pregnant (not me!) and have a child, we could find ourselves totally grey headed, we could realize that it's been that long since we talked to one of our best friends, or we could just wake up one morning and realize that those days slipped away. One thing we do when we watch time pass by is look at photos. Amanda brought baby photos of her and Heather so that they could look at them. It seems so very long ago, yet when I look at a photo, I remember vividly what it was like to be their Mommy and they were my babies. Where did the photos come from? I took them of course. And there aren't too many photos of me with my babies. We always photograph our angels. But what about everyone else? I am still busy photographing my angels and my family, but I am always the taker. There aren't too many photos of me in my 40's and no real pictures taken in a real studio or by a real photographer. There are few photos of me and my children. There may be one of the 4 generations since Isabella was born. Maybe I'm just really self-absorbed as I get nearer to 50, but I want my grandchildren and great-grandchildren to have some idea of who their GiGi was and what I was like (of course I prefer those photos be made when I am cleaned up with my face on and hair fixed. I'm not too fond of the "just got out of bed look!"
We always take great strides to photograph the children hunting Easter eggs, opening Christmas presents, blowing out birthday candles. But what about the ones who stand in the kitchen making Christmas dinner and cleaning up the mess, or the one who made certain to put prizes in the Easter eggs, or the one who baked the birthday cake and made sure that every little detail was covered for the decorations, or the one who was up all night Christmas Eve wrapping the presents that would be open within a few seconds of each other. Do we even think to capture these beautiful people on camera or are we too busy with our lives that we forget the ones who do the things that make the world go around? Photos only take a second and they last a lifetime.
I couldn't imagine not remembering what my Dad, my Grandmother, or even my Grandpa White looked like and not having their photos to view from time to time. I remember Christmas 2004 when Sheila brought Abbie & Lillie to Grandmother's house and we took lots of photos of my Grandmother, Mom, Sheila, Abbie & Lillie. I absolutely love looking at those photos even today. My point: Photos are our only vivid connection with the past. When my Grandmother passed away April 6, 2005, I had so many photos of her to look at and to remember her by because I took her picture all the time. On the other hand, my brothers don't visit often, the last photo I have of all five of us siblings and Mom was Christmas 2002 at my house for dinner. We change so much, children grow up, we lose loved ones each year, life is a revolving door and in order to preserve that history, we have to document it.
I see this generation of parents taking photos of their children, but not really taking the time to make pictures of those who made the generations a reality. More and more, our lives are distracted by things around us, by the needs of our children, spouses, parents and grandparents, by our outside/social activities, by the time we have left to do anything. No matter the length of time spent on any one thing, memories are what keep that one thing alive and photos are what allow those memories to live on in future generations.
I realize that there are many people who don't think having photos of old people who aren't around anymore has any real worth. I will tell you this, I am so blessed to know what my great-grandparents looked like. Some I can remember from my own mind, some I remember from photos, but nonetheless, I know them. We've become a society where heritage doesn't seem important anymore. What original nationality was my bloodline? Well, I have a double dose of Indian and a tiny bit of Irish, and I must have some European in me somewhere because I love London & Paris.
I realize that there are many people who don't think having photos of old people who aren't around anymore has any real worth. I will tell you this, I am so blessed to know what my great-grandparents looked like. Some I can remember from my own mind, some I remember from photos, but nonetheless, I know them. We've become a society where heritage doesn't seem important anymore. What original nationality was my bloodline? Well, I have a double dose of Indian and a tiny bit of Irish, and I must have some European in me somewhere because I love London & Paris.
So, when you get out your camera to photograph your beautiful families, don't forget the generations that brought you into this world. They will live on and on through you and your offspring. I don't know about you, but I love looking at pictures. A pictures says 1000 words! I believe it! I hope your Mother's Day has been one of love, comfort, rest and family. Snap those photos and when you do, make sure you label them!!!
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