September 23, 2019
12:07 p.m.

Over the last few years--probably since the beginning of the new millennium--I have become the photographic documentarian of the family. I have tried very hard to be present for special occasions; births, weddings, holidays and reunions have come to hold a special place in my heart, and I feel a need to leave some sort of memory footprint behind each one. 

The picture above is actually a rarity--my mother, me and my grandmother in a photograph together. The occasion was my own wedding day, but that's not relevant. What is relevant is the fact that there are not more photos like this.

Yes, I find pictures of my parents and grandparents all the time, but I'm not with them in very many of them. Part of the reason may be that I don't particularly like being the subject in a photo. I'd much rather be behind the camera. But the other reason is we didn't seem to feel it was important to leave those memory footprints behind when I was younger. There was always going to be another day, another opportunity to take a quick snapshot. 

I have so many memories of spending time with my grandparents, but very few photos to look at and see that we were actually there, together, spending quality time. I wish now that there were a lot more. 

I guess that's the reason I do take the time to pose for pictures with my children and grandchildren now, even when I'd rather be out of the shot and behind the lens. Someday, they may want to see some evidence that I was there with them. 

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4:07 p.m.

Speaking of photographs, I have spent hours now (not all in one day, mind you) looking for one particular photo. It's driving me nuts. 

And now, I found some photos from a 1991 reunion, and I know there are more, but do you think I can find those? Nope. They are probably scanned on my computer in Denver, which is dying a slow and noisy death. Thank heaven I have them backed up on another driver. Wherever that is.

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Since I have blabbed away about photos, can I just ask you readers, how do you manage your own photographs? Do you just maintain albums of prints and store your digitals on the cloud? Do you scan old photos and save them on a device or a DVD? Do you print your digital photos? Please let me know in the comments.

I'm off in search of the rest of those reunion photos. Wish me luck!

Until we meet again! 

September 4, 2019
1:38 p.m.

It seems to me that it has been a long year. Kind of a tough year, too.

My parents are getting older. We who are lucky enough to still have parents can all say that--they are getting older. But this past year has been a time when I could actually see it happening, day by day. Not just because I'm here every day, either. Because it has accelerated.

I suppose once someone reaches that eight-decade milestone, acceleration is to be expected. So why did I not expect it?

Mom has been through so much in two years. Four surgeries--three elective for knee and hip replacements and one that literally saved her life two years ago when she had a blockage in her small intestine. She uses a cane, even after surgeries, and frequently also makes use of a walker. Still, she remains strong in mind and manages her days well.

Dad is weakening daily. He has become confused and no longer takes joy in the things he used to love. His appetite is sporadic; some days he eats well, and other days I have to beg and ply him with extra protein drinks. He has issues with balance and has fallen several times in the past few months, at one time injuring himself quite badly.

I no longer feel comfortable if I'm not with them all the time.

That said, I have to go to Colorado next week for medical stuff and *gasp* jury duty. My sister will come and stay with them.

I have gotten to a point in my life where I find myself "borrowing trouble". Worst case scenarios just pop into my head, and I'm not sure how to deal with that. I might be a little depressed.
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Last week was pretty nice, since my nephew and his wife and daughter came for a visit that lasted longer than a weekend. It was so nice to spend some good time visiting with them.

 

They make their home in Washington, which is too far away, of course. Every time someone says "It's a small world", all I can think is that it sure seems big to me, when all the people I love are too far away for me to visit every day! 

At any rate, we got to have a few days of good visits, and my sister and brother-in-law did a really nice barbecue at their house. Good food, good company. Who could ask for more?

(I could have asked for no migraine, but I managed to enjoy the day, the food and the company in spite of the darn headache. Boy, those things are killjoys, aren't they?)
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The Labor Day thing has come and gone, and now we must prepare for summer's end. I hope we have a long and mild autumn before winter comes. I hear the winter predictions this year are dire. Ugh.

Speaking of Labor Day, I didn't even glance at sales, look at traffic statistics or in any way acknowledge that the holiday is about anything else but good labor laws. Aren't you proud of me?
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I'm going to have to grab the dog. Neighbor has a new pup, and she's really winding Molly up with her barking. They are going to drive all the neighborhood nuts. It's probably a pleasant conversation, but I don't have a doggie translation app. Ha ha!

Y'all have a good evening!