Photographs and Memories

Today I am grateful for upbeat Easter music at church and for the video footage we have of our son Sam and my step-children Arthur and Emily. Those DVD's are true treasure.

"I Am the Bread of Life" reminds me of my dad's funeral, but it also moves me with inspiration every time I hear it, especially on Easter Sunday.

Sam will randomly pull out one of the DVD's we have from when he was little and start watching it.  He did this last night. It quickly pulls me in. Of course, he is the most adorable little guy ever. Last night we were treated to some of his early walking and talking days. I see him on the screen and my heart swells. It also brings back that awe of new parenthood. Don't lose that awe. I wasn't sure I would ever have a child because I wasn't sure I would meet the right man (that's a story for another day). I had Sam when I was 36. I met my step-children when they were 3 and 6, so I have gotten to watch them grow up too. We have many, many hours of footage and converted the 8mm ones to DVD as well. Darcy had an 8 mm video camera when I met him. Here's where I appreciate technological advancements. Our current camcorder is light and easy to handle. That 8mm one was an unwieldy giant by comparison.

To conclude this entry of random thoughts, a comment about the title of today's post: Photographs and Memories. It may sound familiar to some of you because it was the name of the greatest hits album of Jim Croce, released in 1974, after his death in a plane crash in 1973. My favorite song from that album was "I Got a Name." Do you have a favorite?

Just for today, I will focus on being grateful for what I have.

Comments

  1. Thanks for this blog today, Lis. I needed it! Going back to teaching tomorrow so I have to drum up that particular teacher energy and enthusiasm from somewhere. I love that Jim Croce album too. My favorite song on that album is Leroy Brown. Just kidding. I do like that one, though. But I think my favorite one is the album title song. Photographs and memories... so sentimental, but it's true, we are the sum of all that we experience. Photographs and memories, sometimes if the present moment is particularly challenging and overwhelming, we may drift back into memories of better days. Keep on plugging at the keyboard!

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    1. Drumming up energy and enthusiasm...a song like "Bad, Bad, Leroy Brown" could do that. But sustained energy and enthusiasm come from the people we cherish, whether they are in the room next to us, or long since gone. Either way, our photographs and memories keep their inspiration flowing. I love the line "We are the sum of all that we experience." So if I experience as much gratitude as I can, it seems that things in my life would add up to greater joy.
      Thanks for your comment!

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