Legacy
I’d like to introduce you to my grandmother. She was my last living grandparent until Thanksgiving Day 2016. This was a bittersweet time to lose a loved one- so grateful for her 90+ years on earth yet feeling such a deep sense of loss on a day for celebrating family.
I’d like to introduce you to my grandmother. She was my last living grandparent until Thanksgiving Day 2016. This was a bittersweet time to lose a loved one- so grateful for her 90+ years on earth yet feeling such a deep sense of loss on a day for celebrating family.
My grandma HATED having her photo taken. This sweet lady literally did an about-face every time she saw me grab my camera. She’d have nothing to do with it or with me until the camera was stashed back in its bag. That is, until the summer of 2015 when we were visiting during our summer road trip to Montana. She quietly pulled me aside and told me she wanted me to take her picture. She said she wanted it for her obituary. I’ve never been so honored….and so reluctant…. to have someone in front of my camera before this moment. I quietly grabbed my camera and a reflector, and we went to her bedroom. I sat her down in a chair in the corner of her room and took a handful of images. She didn’t want more than that, and it’s all her tolerance would allow. The weight of the moment and gravity of this request filled the space between us. It was a moment, a feeling, I will never forget.
This image is the one she chose. She felt it captured her, and I couldn’t agree more. Her smile, her strength, her patience, her love of her family and friends- you see it all in this image. I am proud of this photo and I am honored to have been trusted to capture it. Whenever I doubt why I do what I do, I remember this photo, this moment, this request. I was happy to be able to do this for her, and I was also happy to be able to provide this image for her family and legacy.
Before leaving my grandmother’s bedroom that day after taking her photo, I quickly captured this image of her dresser. I wanted to remember everything just as it was, including the image she had framed of her husband, my grandfather. I had taken that image of him many years prior, on a whim. Thank goodness I did, it obviously meant a lot to not only me, but to grandma as well.
Acceptance of the Unexpected
My last post was about our dog. This post is about our cat. When we first brought Rocky home, we were nervous about introducing him to the other resident in our house- our kitty. She had lived with us for a decade. We weren’t sure how she’d welcome a new family member or how he would react to her gentle presence.
My last post was about our dog. This post is about our cat. When we first brought Rocky home, we were nervous about introducing him to the other resident in our house- our kitty. She had lived with us for a decade. We weren’t sure how she’d welcome a new family member or how he would react to her gentle presence.
With all precautions for safety in place, we gradually exposed the two to each other. The reaction was unexpected. His was one of indifference. Hers was one of acceptance. It was the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
Months and years went by as the two grew to be the best of friends. They shared beds, the water bowl and favorite cuddle places around the house (usually right next to one of the kids). Then the unexpected came, just as the dog was on the mend from his health crisis, the cat’s health began to fail. It was unexpected and abrupt. And, it was heartbreaking.
Last weekend we said goodbye to our littlest fur baby. Ten years just wasn’t enough time for us to have her in our lives. We wanted more, but we did not get more. Now we need to channel her inner grace to accept this unexpected loss just as she accepted the unexpected addition of Rocky to our family.
RIP Abby baby, you were loved and you are missed.
Furry Friends
“Furry friends may leave our homes but they never leave our hearts.”
“Furry friends may leave our homes but they never leave our hearts.”
This verse accompanies this image for a pet condolence card in my line of greeting cards. The image is of our dog who seems to have perpetual droopy eyes. We adopted him from our local shelter when he was 7 years old. We have no history of his life before he became a part of our family. He’s brought us so much joy in the short 1-1/2 years he’s been in our family…. droopy eyes and all. We’ve always known that our time with him will be shorter because of his advanced age. But quantity of time doesn’t equate to quality of love. He’s firmly secured his presence within our hearts, and it’s hard not to think of what a hole there will be when his time comes to cross the doggy rainbow.
This background sets the stage for a heartbreaking Monday morning a few weeks back when my husband, kids and I we were laying on the floor at the vet crying our eyes out. ‘No, not yet’ I pleaded, ‘we haven’t had enough time with him yet.’ We had a decision to make: our dog was very sick. We could try to save him or we could say goodbye now before he suffered anymore. No one could know the tradeoff of time for pain. ‘Who am I to play God?’ I thought.
At that very minute of despair, we received a text from our ‘neighbors’ who were no longer our neighbors but who will always be like family to us. Their fur baby, who had felt like our fur baby, had crossed the doggy rainbow. Dear God, more tears. The words through their pain solidified our decision: “Nothing we didn’t do or wouldn’t have done to keep him with us as long as he wasn’t made to suffer. “
Fast forward 3 weeks. Our dog is home with us. He is healing, he is getting stronger and he is getting back to his old self again. It has been a labor of love, resources, time, energy, fear and hope. We have been given the gift of time to express our love for him. It has highlighted the importance of appreciating each and every day knowing that there is never a promise for tomorrow.
And of course, you know what card I sent our friends. This one. It came full circle.
Carpe Diem
Ironically, this was our high school senior class motto. What did we really know about seizing the day when we were 17 ? It definitely means a lot more to me now at this stage of my life.
Ironically, this was our high school senior class motto. What did we really know about seizing the day when we were 17 ? It definitely means a lot more to me now at this stage of my life.
Take this image. I pass by this beautiful spot twice a day when I drive my daughter to school. This past week, the fall colors popped out of the landscape. I’d think, “We’re going to go there next weekend and enjoy the beautiful fall colors.” Part of me was thinking, ‘Go now, don’t wait.’ Another part of me, however, wanted to wait and enjoy the outing with my family.
We went over the weekend. I immediately knew I should have listened to the little voice that had previously whispered: ‘don’t wait.’ The strong, cold winds the night before had left many of the trees almost bare. The golden leaves were beautiful although most of them were strewn across the ground.
What a brilliant (literally and figuratively) lesson on carpe diem. This experience comes on the heels of many health issues my parents are facing. As I look back on the choices they have made over the last 20 years, I can see now what those decisions were based on and why. Thank goodness they had the foresight to choose their dreams despite their circumstances.
So whether it’s something small or the biggest decision of your life, simply remember carpe diem….. seize the day.
The Present Moment
The present moment is the point of intersection between the past and the future. It hinges on the supportive foundation of where we have been tethered to our ambitions of where we are going.
The present moment is the point of intersection between the past and the future. It hinges on the supportive foundation of where we have been tethered to our ambitions of where we are going. This photo is a visual symbolization of this concept. It’s also a representation of my own past, present and future intertwined into one beautiful moment.
This bridge is Deception Pass Bridge connecting Whidbey and Fidalgo Islands in Washington. Whidbey Island was our home when I first began ‘dating the idea’ of photography. Every few years I come back and view this architectural wonder with a wonder similar to the experiences of my life up to this moment. It represents the path I have walked, the point where I stand and the future I am propelling toward.