thekreatidblog.com

I was having breakfast with my nephew this morning and I asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up.
not missing a beat, he replied:
“an army soldier.”

my heart squeezed for a split-second.
I’m only his aunt…and still, my heart squeezed.

my thoughts flash-forwarded to this session and I thought of her.
she makes me wonder what it feels like to be her.
if I were her, looking at her handsome grown-up real life marine soldier,
there would STILL be in my mind’s-eye the memory of a five-year-old tow-headed little boy when I looked at him.
and yet, in the same instant, I would admire him and my heart would swell and I know I would be proud.

it was an absolute pleasure getting to hang with this family.
their laughter, joking and happiness over-threw the fly’s, bee’s, heat and mayhem (seriously, it could have won a crazy-town award.)
thank you, mary. I am happy to have gotten to join in with your mayhem for an afternoon.

I remember the way her skin was so soft.
I remember her pearls that lay over her chiffon buttoned-up blouse.
I remember her making me toast…perfect toast.
I remember her jewelry box filled with sparkly treasures.
I remember her…
and she was beautiful.
she was MY grandma.

smiling at my own memories and then getting to watch THESE beautiful ladies love their nana and pour over their nana’s treasures
is something that I won’t soon forget.
what was even more amazing, was getting to watch the newest generation,
not yet knowing the treasure of the memories they were making in playing with her party gloves,
in getting to hear detailed descriptions of just who was in those funny old black and white photograph’s that filled those old trunks,
watching this newest generation spend sunshine time with their nana but also with their mother’s nana
is a memory that one day they will look back on and smile.

THIS was a beautiful afternoon of getting to photograph a beautiful legacy of a family I so greatly admire.