I checked the mail, opened the card, and then cried… for at least 15 minutes… before I was able to leave our mailbox.
What kind of Christmas card would cause those kind of tears? The kind that included 7 memories… 7 photos of a friend I haven’t seen in 3 years… 7 photos of that friend and her husband, who she lost in Afghanistan on August 6th of this year. She included a lovely note honoring his memory and saying thank you for the outpouring of support she has received, which of course only intensified the tears.
Were there professional photos on that card? No. Did there need to be? Of course not. Those 7 snapshots were more powerful than any professional photo I have ever seen, because there was meaning behind them. A professional photographer isn’t always around when you’re in the midst of a meaningful moment or memory. So it’s up to you to be the record keeper for yourself and for your family and friends.
You don’t have to lose 10 pounds first, you don’t have to have makeup on, heck you don’t even have to had showered first. Who cares what anyone looks like in a fleeting moment that you want to remember. 20 years down the road you’re probably just going to be making fun of your ridiculous clothing choices anyway, so the rest is irrelevant. 
I take photos of other people for a living, but often times forget to take plenty photos of my own family and life. When I was trying to pick our photos for our Christmas card, I had so few of me, my husband, and my son all together. And practically none of just me and my husband! I mean, we’ve had this brilliant relationship for the last 13 years, yet almost no pictures of just the two of us in 2011? So sad! So I’m going to change that this year. I’m making it a point to at least take one photo a day (doesn’t matter with which camera!). I’ll keep a running record on my Flickr page if you’re interested.
While today’s latest smart phones have pretty great cameras, I suggest still at least keeping around a good point-and-shoot to help record your life. And do something with the photos you take… print them for a change instead of just keeping them on your phone or computer. Maybe put them in an album. And do yourself a favor and print them BIGGER than a 4×6 to frame. Photos look more and more beautiful the larger you print them… Get out of your comfort zone and try at least an 8×10 next time! And don’t let your intimidation of fancy cameras (or maybe just laziness? Hey, we have ALL been guilty of that!) keep you from preserving the moments that mean the most to you in life. Life passes by so quickly and you never know what tomorrow holds, so do what you can to remember what puts a sparkle in your eye, and enjoy every last drop of love and fun and happiness that you can.
As for that friend I mentioned in the beginning of this post… what would she be left with without those photos to look back on and remember her husband? Her own memories, yes, but as time passes memories fade… so take photos, print them, and hold them close forever. She took the time to capture those precious moments, and now not only does she have those photos to look back on, but she was able to share them with others who may have not been there in that moment… and now I have that Christmas card attached to my refrigerator, among other memories, where I can honor them daily.
“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present.” -Kung Fu Panda
What’s your most recent favorite snapshot? Here’s mine. 
Jose and Max. First morning snuggle of 2012.
