This is the group shot from my mom and dad’s 5oth Wedding Anniversary party in June 2006. It was the kind of day I knew that I needed to savor, to lock away in my memory forever because things were about to change for my family. I don’t know how I knew this, I suppose as we get older and our parents age it’s a given. Yet, it was more than that. I remember that the air itself had a golden glow that afternoon. My parent’s four children were together as we rarely are, most of their grandchildren too. But as great as the day was, there was also something very fragile about it. It felt like we were on top of a hill looking back at our life as a family, ending a chapter and about to turn the page. I wanted it to be the perfect day for my parents because deep down in my heart I knew as if someone had whispered it in my ear, that their perfect days together were quickly winding down. The following winter my mother’s health began to noticeably decline, and by May we began the rounds of doctor appointments and hospital stays that marked the last difficult fifteen months of her life. Memory can be a wonderful thing, binding us to our past, but only if we lock in those pages filled with joy and let the sorrows go.
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I was hoping someone would post using this definition of ‘lock’. It is a beautiful group picture and a lovely memory. You don’t realize how important these moments are at the time. I took similar set of group pictures last July. My brother-in-law passed away in March and the pictures have been treasures to several family members. Excellent post on this week’s theme.
What a thoughtful take on the theme. A precious family photo.
Beautiful photo for the theme. I love famliy photos too but sad to say that we our big family gather only when someone died in the family. Now am off to check out our old photos. 🙂
Thank you for dropping by my entry. 🙂
Welcome to PhotoHunt! Come visit me too. 🙂
It’s a very good idea to lock in the memories with photos. I didn’t take enough of them when my kids were little and now I regret it.
Photos do help us lock away our memories, and what a wonderful family!
What a wonderful description of the fragility of life.. it brings tears to my eyes and yet joy that you had this time together to keep near your heart.
Wonderful take on the theme. That is a great family photo 🙂
Mine’s Up:
http://kattscrapfever.blogspot.com/2009/06/photohunt-lock.html
Aren’t you glad you ALL had that big day in 2006 together???? Many families don’t get that. Life is forever altered… I can get so sad sometimes when I think about my Mom and Dad –and how much I miss them. I had a bad first marriage –and ultimately divorced. My Mom lived with me through that —but she didn’t get to meet George and see how much his love has changed my life. Of course, my friends say that she KNOWS –and is smiling down. However, there is just so much I want to say to her NOW. Oh Well–tis life. Great photo, Lilli
Hugs,
Betsy
What a great take on the theme – locking away memories. Delightful photo. I’ve got some photos of my parents’ 50th but didn’t even think of using that kind of lock.
I’m relatively new to PhotoHunt also. Here’s my lock:
http://blondesherry.blogspot.com/2009/06/photohunt-lock.html
Very moving post. So sorry for your loss. I can’t even imagine the grief. Great family photo though. Thanks for the great advice on a camera too! I will use it!
I know exactly what you mean. We celebrated a 50th anniversary for my husband’s grandparents and we all knew that it would be the last, big family celebration. It was odd too because no one was ill but we somehow knew and sure enough, less than 8 months later Papa passed and then shortly thereafter, Momo passed too.
I look at the pictures from that gathering and cherish the wonderful moments we spent together.
what a touching post. brought a lump to my throat.
Wow. No lie – I just paid for an online gift for my parents’ 50th wedding anniversary 2 seconds ago, and scheduled it to arrive in July, in time for their day. They have opted for no special celebration. They are having my 3 siblings who live near them come for dinner.
My parents wanted just their kids and grand kids too, nothing fancy…it was nice. ENJOY the day Deb!
beautiful shot and great take on the theme!
Wow this is such a beautiful family photograph !! Congrats !!
A beutiful post. Oh how I understand:
“Memory can be a wonderful thing, binding us to our past, but only if we lock in those pages filled with joy and let the sorrows go”.
My own father died of cancer, and also my two best friends. It is hard not to let the sorrow repress the happy memories – I have to work on it still (and my dearest friend died in 1992).
Hey Lilli, There’s a GIVEAWAY on my blog today. It’s a book—and you don’t list the author on your list.
Check it out.
Hugs,
Betsy
What a lovely photo and description. Life is precious – thank you for reminding us all.
How incredibly profound and beautiful. I hope you’re expanding on these posts in a novel. It would surely be on my TBR list!