Sunday, January 3, 2010

Day 128 or Unparalled Beauties

My husband gave me the most wonderful anniversary gift. It is a digital photo frame that cycles through thousands of pictures, displaying four at a time. He uploaded pictures from over our many years including individual pictures, our children and our family, extended and immediate. I especially love that it shows more than one picture at a time because I find myself looking at a picture of my son at six months next to a picture of him at six years. My daughter's birth next to a picture of me at grad school. My husband in Iraq next to a picture of him at the park. It is a living, moving collage of our lives.

When he got it for me, I admit to not being immediately sold. I thought that it was a nice idea but it was a little expensive and it seemed tech-y (is that a word?) but his heart was set on it so I did not argue. Now I catch myself losing time standing mesmerized in front of it. They always say that one see their life flash before their eyes in near-death experiences -- I now have an idea of what that might look like.

The photographer Berenice Abbott said:

Some people are still unaware that reality contains unparalleled beauties. The fantastic and unexpected, the ever-changing and renewing is nowhere so exemplified as in real life itself.


I see that. In watching shot after shot of my real life, I see that. The pictures aren't all perfect. Some are a little out of focus. I am not always having good hair days. My children are pouting in a few. In other words, they are real. In the truest sense of the now terribly abused word. My family and I are not airbrushed and camera perfect as seen on E! and Style and the other presenters of supposed reality. Life is messy but that's what makes it beautiful. This simple gift has opened my eyes to my unparalleled beauties.

Take a moment and look around you. Where do your beauties lie?

22 comments:

Liz Mays said...

My daughter bought me one of those for Christmas and it gives me such joy to see those photos as I sit at my desk. I totally understand your post!

Middle Ditch said...

I would love to have something like that. Happy new year

chitra said...

Lucky You Traci that's a nice gift. This is the first time i am hearing about such a thing.

Anonymous said...

Your blog keeps getting better and better! Your older articles are not as good as newer ones you have a lot more creativity and originality now keep it up!

mommakin said...

Real is WAY better than air-brushed and camera perfect. Awesome gift.

Felicity Grace Terry said...

A great gift and so thoughful. I got one for my birthday last year and it has brought me such pleasure. So much nicer than storing photos in albums though I have thesae as well, you are able to display so many more than you ever could in frames.
Such beautiful words by the way, it's a pleasure to visit you.

Middle Ditch said...

Hi Traci, I received your E-mail. Thank you. It was a lovely read.

It totally depends as to how you would like to follow Middle Ditch. Most of my "fans', when they came into the serial somewhat at the middle, started at the beginning and worked their way up. At least this way you know how everything develops and it makes it easier to know what's what I think. Anyway, it's up to you. The nice thing is that this will stay on the internet for as long as the internet exists and you can go back to any episode you like at any time.

Thank you for your support. It's support like yours that keeps me going and makes it all worthwhile.

Debbie said...

I'm thinking of getting one of those for my mom for her birthday. Now, you've convinced me!

Mandee said...

What an awesome gift! So glad you are able to enjoy your photos all in one spot! I really need to get more photos out in my house!

Unknown said...

What a sweet & thoughtful gift!

Keri said...

This is really cool. don't you just love technology? Until it breaks down that is.... LOL. So nice to know you had a terrrific holiday. Hope your new year is as good. Thanks for being my cyber/blogger friend. I really do appreciate my connection with you. Until next time. Keri from Samwich365.com

Menopausal New Mom said...

That is such a beautiful post and what a thoughtful gift. Yes, you have certainly opened my eyes a little more. Thank you!

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful gift! I have never heard of one that shows four pictures at once, very cool. We have our computer in our living room and the screensaver is set to photos, so I understand how you can get lost watching them cycle through. Technology is so amazing sometimes as is the growth of our children.

BONNIE K said...

I'm embarrassed to say that my husband got me one of those for my birthday years ago and we never got it together to put it together. I will need to work on that.

AudreyO said...

I really wish I had more photos. I've scrapbooked the photos we do have. I've just never been much of a picture taker.

Nancy C said...

I love how you take a gift and make it a gift for all of us through your words.

Betty Manousos said...

What a thoughtful gift, Traci!
I'm soo glad you had such a great time!
love and hugs

won said...

Very nice thoughts. It gives me a reminder to pause and think....and appreciate each of those moments caught on film (not so much anymore!).

Tracie said...

I've always wanted one of those. I would probably stare at it all day.

Nancy@ifevolutionworks.com said...

What an awesome gift! I was given a SLR camera and it's helped me really see the beauty in everything around me. New eyes, so to speak.

Joanna Jenkins said...

It's wonderful that your husband loaded all the pictures on the frame for you-- That's a bonus part of the gift.

It took me til my mid 30s to finally see the beauty in the little things of life.

Great post. Thank you.
jj

Anonymous said...

...yeah the beauty lies in the quirks and flaws..I know that is where we get some of our most hysterical and touching moments...like in Good Will Hunting when, Robin Williams tells Matt Damon about his wife and the memories he has of her.. the stuff real life is made of...thats what you hold on too..the little idiosyncracy's and imperfections...that's where the beauty and sentiments are for me...sometimes when my kids are laughing at me for something but they may be embarrassed..I say.."these are the things that you will look back on and remember later on..!they just look at me weird..