I’m sitting in my kitchen which is currently a mixture of chaos and clutter. Which is sort of the normal these days.
The counter is covered with art supplies, paper plates and bottles of rum and margarita mix from last nights party.
We had our usual group of friends over for some Cinco De Mayo festivities. 13 adults, 6 kids and one dog. Lots of noise and laughter. The children played well and this morning there are messes to clean and dishes to do and icing to remove from the couch and the tables.
But it’s all in good fun. And I’m sad that I didn’t take any pictures. That I don’t take more pictures when we are all together, especially of the kids.
I want to capture these moments of them growing up together and of us growing old together.
At these things John always tells me, we don’t need pictures we know what we all look like. Or how many pictures do we need of us standing around someones kitchen?
And usually I sigh and agree. When you’ve known each other for a dozen or so years the events all start to roll together and maybe you don’t need to remember them all.
But I’m starting to rethink that. Maybe we do need to capture all of it, maybe I do want memories of all these little parties and play dates, of our mutual chaos and clutter.
A few years back I had a Christmas party and as a favor I placed a basket of photos and photo albums on the table. Everyone was welcome to an album and any of the pictures.
We all sat around that table, a slightly smaller group than we are now, looking back over our years together, laughing at pictures and passing them around.
And that’s the thing about photographs they capture where we are at that moment and who we are.
They capture a space in time that will never be again. And as I look at my pictures I see the sameness and the changes, I see who’s come and who’s gone and who will always remain. I see how we grow and change. I see our life passing right before us and when I look at those pictures I have a moment to stop and be grateful for it all.
And I think if I could go back I would make a living taking pictures, capturing the moments. And maybe someday I will.
Till then, just consider me the class historian, and be prepared to have your picture taken.
Dear Julia
Oh, I used to be very camera shy. Actually, I still am,but realize that it is not necessary and that those precious memories we capture in photo's, will always be alive when we have such precious reminders. So, I plan on having a few family photo sessions this coming holidays when my sons are home.
Blessings from EO
Mia
You are so right, those moments will live on through the photographs we have.
Take those pictures! I have two besties from college and we get together a few times a year with our children. I love to look at all the pictures and see how we have all changed and grown. And ignore your husband. Husbands sometimes say silly things- it 's just the way they are.
Yes they often say silly things. My hubs family isn't very sentimental and there aren't many pictures from when he was young.