John Updike: "In memory's telephoto lens, far objects are magnified."
Some of my most wildly magnified memories are these.
On the morning of our wedding, The-Boyfriend-To-Be-Husband called me on the phone. I had already changed into my wedding dress. I had roses in my hair! He was frantic, and said, "I can't find my pants!"
During labor, I leaned over the bed and threw up into my shoes. I could see that the vermicelli I'd had for dinner, more than 8 hours earlier, had remained undigested.
On a bright, warm, weekday afternoon, I was sat down by two doctors in the hospital. I listened to them tell me how my mother's days were severely numbered, and I marveled at how, not once in their long speech or in their vague answers to my questions, did either of them use the word "die", "dying" or "death".
Note: It's a metal key in my photo. I have several of these keys, with different words engraved on them, all bought from a craft store. I've shot one with the word "JOURNEY" before: http://365project.org/myautofocuslife/365/2012-03-20
I really like this ... and your memories (eeewww....undigested vermicelli ....always to be associated! bet your son loves that!). Docs are like that...death is failure for them so they don't like to admit to it!
Great piece of work here! Made me start wanting to get off my rear and write down my memories...I want to write about my memories of mom and dad too...before they lip away forever. It s a huge task but if I just do as you did...short snippets...tht I can add to later (or not) I think I can get it done. Lovely photo and memories!
Love this! First story made me smile...hope your hubby found his pants in time!!! Why is it the bad things are etched in our memory so much deeper than the good things?
Fabulous shot, just lovely; I remeber your other key shot too. Your words are so truw and powerful in their way; during my year of turning 50 (oh God) I kept a daily dairy, nothing exciting but something to hopefully give my grand-daughter an idea of life in 'my time'
As usual Livia, it's not just about a great image with you, it's about your words as well, always worthy of not simply reading but of really reading and absorbing. Thanks.
What a wonderful key and love how you have linked it to this quote which is so true. Its so great that you share these memories with us and maybe strike a chord with our own memories.
Wonderful capture, Livia. I love the engraving on this key. And I LOVE THE STORIES. It is so great to have memories. So good to have them written down before they fade. Great job.
In this entry, it's not just a photo. This is something a friend of mine would call picture poetry. He combines really beautiful poems (his own) with his photos. This shot gets so much more meaning with your story, you should print the picture and get it framed with your words next to it. Just lovely!
Nice shot and interesting commentary Livia. Long forgotten memories seem to come back crystal clear (maybe filtered through imagination?) with advancing years. As if they were about something that only happened yesterday - yet I often can't remember exactly what I did yesterday!
Beautiful capture. Love the dark tones to it. The b&w is a bit symbolic too. My memory is gone. Don't remember much beyond 5 years, and it goes into oblivion the further back. Most of my memories are held by photos, stories people tell me, or strangely, music. Not that music will trigger a memory. But more of a feeling. A sense of nostalgia, without any substance.
Love this shot, cool key - actually love both of them, I did travel back to Journey :) You're a great writer too! I really enjoy reading your work as well as viewing your album!
A very favourite author of mine - and the telling of your memories could come straight out of one of his books. Congratulations on such an evocative photograph. I love it.
As long as the good memories are more and bigger as the bad I sign for it. Great key and pic of the key and thanks for you frankness stories.
I will share one of mine. On our wedding my wife carries a little handbag fitted to her dress. She lost/ forgotten it several times. The last time she lost it she curse loud in the wedding office : `` NEXT TIME I never take a handbag again with me ``
A very telling picture, Livia. Updike was right, and there are also keys to unlock memories that are forgotten. In fact, I think your shot is so significant I'll fav it.
Haha, like @wannabe I think we all want to know what REALLY happened to the pants! But a great way to dredge up the memories: some good, some funny, some sad. As for @claireuk did she really establish a 'dairy' just so she could give her granddaughter an idea of how she lived?? (Haha, I know what you meant to type, Claire.)
Memory is such a tricky thing. My husband and I have shared so many moments that we remember totally differently. Sometimes I have told him a story he was not there for and years later he'll retell it and be sure he is remembering that we were there together
This photo would not mean anything without your explanation! Thank you for sharing this - I think it takes a lot of courage to write these sort of things, press a button and send them into the world! You are tops in my tree!
Beautiful picture, I really like it. You are such a good writer! Seriously in that short piece you wrote there, I laughed and cried. Now that's good writing!
Lovely capture and such beautiful and tender words that will bring personal memories to the minds of everyone reading them! I had a shiver in my spine and tears in my eyes as I read! Fav
A great, big, wordy and memorable "THANK YOU!" to everyone for stopping by!
I just write what comes to mind, and I'm really glad you can empathize. Some memories are hard to let go of, even when they are sad memories, because of the depth of the emotions I had felt at the time. I hope I didn't upset anyone. Thank you all for being so patient and supportive. I am grateful.
You always have such wonderful stories to tell...brings back memories of some of the humourous & "stuff that stand out" events in my life and there are many ;-) I love the way you tell it and a great photo to go with it all.
Love everything about this, the photo itself, powerful word and wonderful memories. We need to remember the good and the bad because thats who makes us the person we are today.
Fav =)
Very strong imagery coupled with your words - you really are more than a photographer behind a camera. Moving, captivating and very thoughtful. Reading your words really sink deep - fav
I am a memory keeper, and I like to write about them from time to time. I don't know if anyone likes to read them, but I like to write them! Some great and not so great memories you have, but isn't all of life like that- a blend of all the opposites you can think of. Thanks for sharing some of your funnier and deeper memories with us.
Occasionally, a shot evokes so much of a persons soul, by putting things that only they know or remember in full view for anyone who wants to see it. This is one of those shots. You have a rare talent for this. Congrats on double top 20.
FAV
I will share one of mine. On our wedding my wife carries a little handbag fitted to her dress. She lost/ forgotten it several times. The last time she lost it she curse loud in the wedding office : `` NEXT TIME I never take a handbag again with me ``
I just write what comes to mind, and I'm really glad you can empathize. Some memories are hard to let go of, even when they are sad memories, because of the depth of the emotions I had felt at the time. I hope I didn't upset anyone. Thank you all for being so patient and supportive. I am grateful.
Fav =)