An Oldie...

When I was little we lived near my Grandparents on my Dads side. I was the first grand daughter...and they had only had 4 boys. I think I was loved. :) My Grandfather dabbled quite a bit in photography. He was one of my very first inspirations. Later as I got older, he had a large framed photograph of my when I was about 2 in his office. You don't even know how special that made me feel. I LOVED that he hung it in HIS office. I felt adored, and beautiful. Now that photograph hangs over the computer I'm typing at now (he passed away when I was only 12). It reminds me of being loved. I don't know if I can describe well enough the importance of putting up photos of your own children- professional or no- they make kids feel special, like I did. They feel proud that you would put a photo of them on your wall...they feel beautiful. This is one of the huge reasons I put photos of my kids on virtually every wall of my house.
Recently my uncle sent me a few photos I'd never seen that my Grandpa had taken, this is one that I fell in love with. I loved that swing. We'd spend hours on them. I loved that dress, my mom made it for me for Easter. I loved that shed...full to the brim of stuff. I can still see the inside of it, and remember it musty, fresh wood smell. I loved the huge garden... picking peas and raspberries until we were no longer hungry at all. I am shocked how much one single photograph can jog a bucket full of memories and emotions I didn't know I had stored up inside. That is just one reason I love photography.