There is value in this thing that I do, and I think that we are all reminded of that in the most extreme cases of both happiness and sadness. Photography is healing and a journey back on the times that mean the most to a life. I’m not a writer and words are often lost on me, especially when I begin to ramble in a blog post. Thankfully there are writers and other minds out there who nail it for me:
“Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until is becomes a memory.”
-Theodor Seuss Geisel
Last week, my family said goodbye to a truly wonderful woman. My Babciu. My fathers mother. Wielka Babciu to my baby girls. A loved one to so many in my hometown and beyond.
The impact she had, on every person she came in contact with in her 91 years, will never be forgotten. Babciu was an amazing soul that we all felt lucky to have, learn from, love, and laugh with. She was selfless and spunky and never let anyone around her go without. She always managed to run the skat table and never was the first to let go of a good hug.
She (all caps needed) LIVED. Listening to her talk about her life was one of my favorite things in the world. Wisdom that comes from a life like hers… there is no price tag you can put on that.
Seeing her light up over todays technology brought me so much joy and allowed us to ‘see’ her more often than our visits would allow. And nothing beat the way she was around Ava and Myra (for me at least). She loved them so much. She loved all 14 of her great grandchildren so much! The photos and videos I have of Ava and Myra in her arms now have more meaning than ever. They bring tears to my eyes. Tears of joy because we had her and she loved us as much as we loved her.
I guess it’s selfish to think we could keep her around forever – to think that we can keep anyone forever. There is a great deal of sadness that comes with the loss of a woman like her, but there is also this wonderful reminder to never stop appreciating life… the way that she did:
Soak up the moments with the people who hold the most room in your heart. (And photograph those moments along the way in an attempt to keep them forever.)
Until we all meet again Babciu – save us a seat up there. xo
