I’ve spent a lot of time lately looking at pictures, old and new, mostly of my Mom at various stages of her life: in childhood, as a young adult, as a young mother, and throughout the years of my own and my sisters’ childhoods and coming of age, until the photographic record chronicles my mother’s three daughters as we ourselves became mothers, and she a grandmother – a time too short; too soon over.
As I look through the photos, I pause often. I pause to smile, to weep, to remember.
I pause to talk to her again. To tell her I remember.
I remember you – the curly-haired girl I never knew:
The smart graduate:
The beautiful bride:
I remember you, Mommy; the beating heart of our loving family:
I remember you; three times the happy mother of the bride:
And once a life’s great love:
And now, my Mother, you live in photographs, but not in flesh. Now, you live in us: in these, our so similar voices, familiar gestures, remembered turns of phrase. You are a memory, a dream, a breath of embracing wind.
You will always be our Mother.
So lovely. At the party we had as a celebration of my Mom’s life we had framed photos of her all over and 4 photo boards full of photos of her life. Guests really enjoyed visiting the boards and finding photos of themselves with Mom at different times of their lives. It was wonderful to go through the boxes of photos with my Dad and siblings choosing which ones we would put out.
I did, Annabelle! That is so funny!
So beautiful Kath. You girls gotta stop making me cry!
Hey, did Jen get married at the Old Mill? I have a pic of me and my mom standing right in the same spot!
Lovely tribute to a beautiful Mum – thanks for sharing.
What a beautiful mother you have. These pics are extraordinary.
Thanks Kath. We will always remember.
Beautiful, Kath. Thank you. I remember too.