I often think it isnt the minutia of things that matter. Just the imagination and the memories of what has transpired in life, the people who have given your life meaning, the souls who take you away, wish you back into time to remind you of where it is that you came from, moments that remind you of when you felt whole or alive. The smiles in aging photographs that serve to remind you that you are here now and no wishes, no wants can take you back to that singular place in time when perhaps as a child you felt whole, loved, wanted.
I don’t always write about my family. Very rarely in fact, but while searching for a proper picture to accompany my thoughts, I happened upon this one. Now granted, I copped it off of my cousins Facebook page, but I’m sure he wouldn’t mind. The man on the left was my Mothers older brother. She had another younger one but this is about this photo, a snapshot in time that I feel so blessed to share. I’ve had so many fond memories, and even though he lived an hour away, so many new and happy experiences in my life happened because of him. He was named after my grandfather…a man who to this day I miss with sincere and honest tears. My Moms side of the family was not large. We aren’t Catholic, which to me seems the genesis of huge and populous families, they were what they were, small, compact and that was that….
What I see when I look at that picture is a snapshot in time. Two people happy and blissful and together. To me that’s what important. The happy days spent as a family, living in that space in time, a moment that will never come again. It’s Those moments that I speak of here.
We stopped by the neighbors house tonight, we don’t know him well, and only one family member spoke English, we fumbled through, trying to learn new words, but in the end, when the host awoke from his nap he was overjoyed. We made his day just by stopping by. It was his 76th birthday and he sat with us for an hour, insisting we stay, have a beer with him and just chat. I think if someone took a picture of us, they would have seen smiles like the ones you see in the photograph. There’s a song that comes to mind, photographs and memories….even if you don’t know the song, I think the title itself says enough. Embrace and love those minutes my friends, they’re far and few between. I don’t think you even need the reminder. I read you, I’m there so often with you…let go of the little things and just simply embrace moments like these…for when they’re gone, reminiscing just isn’t as good a replacement as the real deal.
This is my Uncle Chuck, he died on an April day too many years ago…and my Cousin Tom, his son…they smile the same, and I am happy for that gift from one to another….peace, blessings, and as always, appreciate, love and embrace the good days…..
Be happy, be loving, and above all, be together. Peace and love and a blessed Memorial Day to those who have family who are no longer here except in memory. Kim
Peace, Love and Patchouli 