Looking Back, Moving Forward

 A dog and her best friend. Lexus the Rottie and R. Lamont, RIP

One of the things about me that seems to annoy my loved ones is my habit of taking candid photos. They say I invade their space, privacy, etc., when I snap a picture without warning.

Of course, because they know this about me, they should always be 'ready', I reason. When all is said and done, however, the end result is a crowd pleaser and a treasure to last a lifetime and beyond.

I'm glad for my obsession with taking pictures (I even demand them from my children when they are traveling). They help me join in the snapshot; relive the memorable moments in my life. Times when small details of a seemingly ordinary day open up in the same old way, and sometimes, a brand new way at second glance. A picture can bring tears of joy, thanksgiving to the heart and soul, because once upon a time, life happened. And it was good.

The picture here shows my late husband and his best friend trailing behind him on a desert path. They were walking ahead of me, and it was Valentine's Day, 2010. Both of them are gone now. But here they are again, in this timeless frame.

This picture-love I have is cathartic and gives me strength as I move forward.