I made a lot of dumb choices, early in life (okay, fine, very recently too) and now that I’m older (never you mind just how old) do I understand that stupid choices, more often than not, lead to making better decisions, later on.
But, don’t tell my kids…not just yet…okay?!?
Oh, but I feel it safe to say that anyone who knows me (most especially, IRL) would probably agree: my husband is an example of a pretty gosh-darned good pick.
But, this post is NOT about him (you’re welcome, sweetie!) or necessarily even about me.
It is about my husband AND me, because a bulk of our parenting decisions have been based on stuff that we either:
Experienced ourselves, as children
We’ve royally screwed up, as young adults
So, we’ve tried to raise our children to be all the things that we were/are not and, at the very least, a mashup of our better parts, like:
I like to keep things light and encourage self-depricating humor as an art form
He is super smart and has good sense, especially knowing when to laugh at my jokes
You know, stuff like that. Teaching our kids how to take a compliment, not so much.
ALTERNATE BLOG POST TITLE: Reason why I rushed out the front door early this morning and nearly beaned myself into unconsciousness (pro tip: check to make sure the storm door is actually unlocked!) I wanted to get this shot before the raindrops evaporated — I blame all you more-expert-like photographers out there AND Instagr.am!
After finishing perhaps the juiciest pear on the planet (seriously, you SHOULD be salivating) when one of your kids walks by, looks down at your plate and hollers:
“DON’T MOVE!!!”
[eyes go WIDE, slides teeth over teeth, checks for creepy crawlies]
“Let me get your camera!!!”
Aaaaand, after nearly 9 years of hitting the publish button, proving once again that old school bloggers never die, they’re just busy trying to remember where in the h.e.double hockey sticks they put their camera, as said nearly-grown kids continue to provide you with some really gosh-darn good blog fodder.
My husband, Garth (not his real name) thinks I’m nuts (I know, act surprised anyway okay?)
Aaaanyway, as I was showing a family friend my our new BESTEST, AWESOMEST, I CAN’T BELIEVE IT’S NOT BUTTER, not to mention, ABSOLUTELY FRIGALICIOUS camera…
[takes breath]
…he calls me out.
“She takes the weirdest pictures.”
I was crushed.
So, I grabbed the camera (ever so gently) and began to scroll through the memory card.
We nabbed this old foot pump Singer sewing machine in a yard sale, B.C. (before kids) I just love the shadow play with the wood and metal in this shot.
Looking up on top of the sewing machine: the flower pot is a quick (but, prettiful) place to drop our keys and the glass ball actually belongs to something else that broke, years ago (can’t remember what) but, the kids like to pretend it’s a magic crystal ball….me, too.
Looking to the left of the sewing machine: two of my favorite pictures of Garth (not his real name) and I thought that the reflection on the one of us dancing at my brother’s wedding was sort of cool — quite apropos, really.
Looking to the right of the sewing machine: the dining room window is the brightest in the house (even on the gloomiest of winter days) so, my geraniums are always in full bloom! /gloom
Aaaaand, then looking left (again) from the sewing machine: my Aunt Theresa crocheted this blanket for me as a Christmas present. My cousin gave it to me the day Theresa passed away and I’m still waiting for the awful sense of loss and regret to pass, too, each time I look at it.
[heavy sigh]
Aaaand, this is when I moved to the back door and, well, color me weird, but darned if I didn’t start to feel a whole lot better!
“What’s this one about?”
I looked over my friend’s shoulder and blankly stared at the viewer.
“Um, what do YOU think it looks like?”
[eyes go wide]
“Well, I would say a Christmas Cactus.”
[shrugs]
“But, you’re the photographer.”
[grin]
“You probably see something different, like hair, or something!”
[frown]
I know. In this case, different is code for nutty and/or weird. Still. I love, LOve, LOVe, LOVE my new BESTEST, AWESOMEST, I CAN’T BELIEVE IT’S NOT BUTTER, not to mention, ABSOLUTELY FRIGALICIOUS camera…
[takes deep breath]
…because, it compels me to slow down and really appreciate the world around me and, well, she DID call me a photographer, right?
