Week#2 Saturdays: Photograghy - Photos and memories goes hand in hand

There is no doubt photos bring back the best of our memories.

They recall those moments that really happened. Moments of tears, joy, happiness, love, disappointment, those timeless treasures.

Is this not what “true life” is all about?

What we capture in our photos is what is captured… forever and ever.

“A camera is a SAVE button for the mind’s eye.” — Roger Kingston

Paging through my photos the other day I could not believe the number of photos I have. Not only on my phone but also on my Dropbox folders.
Nearly 42,000 photos! I know what I will be doing one day when I am old and sitting on the veranda with a blanket over my knees and a pot of tea next to me.

All of a sudden I don’t mind getting old. As for my children, luckily it will be their problem to give me these photos in a way that I can view them. Technology would have gotten the upper hand on me by then.

“A photograph is the pause button of life.” - Anonymous

Today I would like to share two photos with you that are close to my heart.

My aunt Rynie, my dad’s sister. A remarkable woman and a woman who had an enormous influence on my life.

• She was always the one I could share my “intimate” secrets with, that first kiss.
• She was the one who was always listening and who never judged.
• She was the one who would always cook prawns for us.
• She was the one who always had a sweet or two in the pocket of her dress.

As a young woman, she fell in love with a German soldier, Leonard, just before World War 2. The two of them got married and after a very short time as husband and wife, my uncle was called for duty. Aunt Rynie wanted to return to South Africa but it was not easy. The whole world was in madness. As she was a single young woman traveling by herself it made it even more difficult.

I use to sit at her feet listening to her telling us kids of her ordeals. If it was not for the jewelry she had she would not have been able to return to South Africa alive.

“Not to put your eggs in one basket is crap. It should be, don’t put all your gold and diamonds in one basket”. “If there is ever a world war again, buy all the jewelry you can. People are going to need money for food but you, you are going to need gold for safety.”

I can recall her so clearly telling us this.

Come 10 October every year, her birthday, I silently celebrate it with her.

“Capture every moment as if it is your last.” - Anonymous

The second photo is also of a woman. My darling daughter, Tamsin.

This photo was taken on the day that I realized that she is no longer that little girl that was fighting for he life when she was born at 7,5 months weighing only 1,2 kg.

Here she was on the verge of her life a beautiful young lady going to her matric farewell or promenade dance as the Americans will call it.

She was now a young lady who I have to let go of. It was time for her to spread her wings and enter the adult world. I could not hold her back any longer, I could not fight her battles for her anymore, and I could not stop her from making her own decisions.

Now, 18 years later, it still brings tears to my eyes just looking at it. This time it is tears of joy as she has turned into a beautiful woman, a remarkable wife for her husband, and an awesome mommy for her children. A daughter that I am tremendously proud of.

My advice is don’t stop taking photos. You can never have enough!

“If you don’t think photos are important, wait until they are all that you have left.” Anonymous