The above picture shows me, my daughter (Kaitlin), my son-in-law (Torben) and my husband (Andy) at Kaitlin and Torben’s wedding at the Chicago Botanic Garden last May. I got this picture out because Robert Henru asked for a picture of me, and I’m publishing it because when I go to other people’s blogs I like to see their picture… it makes the site friendlier and the authors seem more real. It seemed only fair to show one of mine, too.
The picture warms my heart, not because I like fancy weddings… in general I don’t. There’s often too much emphasis on the affair going perfectly instead of being relaxed and friendly. This wedding manged to do both. It was elegant, but the focus was on the guests having a good time, not on the bridal couple.
The wedding was the second event of the weekend. The first was the Friday night open house at Kaitlin and Torben’s. There were over 40 people and their house is small, so they expected people to come at various times and then leave. Instead we pretty much descended about the same time and most of us stayed the whole evening. Yes, it was a bit crowded, and the noise level was a bit elevated because we were having such a good time talking, but it was a great party.
That meant the ice had been broken, so the conversations continued the next evening at the wedding. As if that weren’t enough, the couple provided a brunch at their favorite restaurant Sunday morning. They figured if the guests were good enough to come (some came from as far away as Denmark and Czechoslovakia), it was the least they could do. A few people had gone home by then, but most were still there, having as good a time as ever.
Before I had always said my husband’s and my wedding had been my favorite. It was a simple family affair, and I loved it. But that has changed, this wedding has joined the top of the list. It was a family affair, too… it’s just that the family was a lot bigger! Kaitlin and Torben have been in a committed relationship for years, and I’ll always be grateful for their choosing to have the ceremony now. It was great reunion for both of their families, and some of the guests are having health problems… one never knows if we’ll see one another again. As I’ve said more than once, one of my main aims in life is to make my little corner of the world a more loving and friendly place. Kaitlin and Torben did that with bells on. I feel privileged to have been a part of it.
What About You?
What are some of your favorite photographs? What memories do they stir in you?
I love that you asked me to think about one of my favorite photos. The first that comes to mind is of me and my kids with my Aunt Deb. She was my saving-grace growing up and I attribute so much of who I am today to her. She’s more like a sister to me. When I look at this particular picture, I have a flood of emotion to see her standing with all of us. Her eyes convey her love for me and my children. It’s hard to put into words but there’s such a connected and belonging feeling with all of standing together. What a great moment of reflection. Thanks again.
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My favorite photo is of my mother, a children’s librarian who also served on the Newbery Awards Committee one year. She is sitting “halfway up & halfway down” on a narrow stair, reading to both my kids. Rachel stands, engrossed, one hand resting on her Bubbe’s arm. Daniel, equally entranced, curls into her body.
She was the most wonderful grandmother for my two children. The most wonderful you could ever imagine.
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One of these days, I shall post my favourite photograph. It shows our ex daughter in law, our son, my wife and me at a family get together. Unfortunately, it is in a print form and I have to convert it to digital form and then load it up here.
That photograph brings back such wonderful memories of the time that the four of us were together. Since the divorce of my son and daughter in law, though the latter visits us often, we miss her presence in our lives. She was the absolute Mary Poppins in our lives and that photograph clearly captures the happy times that we had when she was living with us.
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I don’t have many favorite pictures with me in it. I tend to be self critical…LOL!! Having said that, I do realize that readers would like to see a human face behind a blog and occasionally published a few pictures of mine. I’d rather put up images of my kids, though!!
I like pictures of weddings. Thanks for sharing one from your family album!!
B. Wilde,
Reading your comment warmed my heart. I love your posts that talk about the people who touched you when you were growing up. Thank you!
Jody,
Thank you for sharing your photo, too. I can picture it and it reminds me of when my daughter was little and we would snuggle together in bed as I read to her.
My mom wasn’t a reader, but she loved to cook for her family. I think of all of us in her kitchen sitting around the table eating and talking. 🙂
rummuser,
I’m sorry the marriage didn’t work out. Your comment reminds me of the boyfriend I had in college. My mom loved him, and my breaking up with him was especially hard because I knew she would miss him. On the other hand, it would not have been a good marriage, and she was happy with my choice of a husband. I wouldn’t have married someone who didn’t fit in with my family.
How hard is it in India to get a print scanned? We have over 18,000 slides and prints, so we bought our own equipment. My husband scanned them all into the computer, so they’re easy to look at. (It took a long time! Bless him for his patience.) The scanner we use for pictures was somewhat expensive, but our regular printer/scanner/copier was less than $200 and does an adequate job. Although if you only want one scanned, it might be easier to pay to have it done.
Whatever way you choose to do it, please convert it to digital so you can share it. I would love to see it.
Evelyn,
I’m with you. I usually take the pictures so I won’t have to be in them…this picture was definitely one of the better ones of me. I must say, the picture on your blog is great. I wish mine turned out that well!
Thank you all for coming by. 🙂
Jean,
This is my favorite photo today – he hands of my little ones in play. I think I really do not need to say anything more
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pkolari/2826475013/sizes/o/
Thank you for sharing. It was nice to see you 🙂
My favorite photos are of my husband because his love comes shining them through even in two dimensions.
It’s great to see a picture of you Jean – thanks for sharing it here! I have lots of favorite photos, most of them would be of my family. Today, I posted several on my site – and they all bring up great memories I have! That’s what I love about photos – the memories they stir in us.
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Maya,
I couldn’t get to your photo because Flickr says it’s marked private. Could you change that so we can see it? Thanks.
Lori,
I wish I could see them.
Lance,
What a great post! Thank you. 🙂
One of my favorite photos is of my grandmother holding my son who was about 1 years old. She had the biggest smile on her face and so did he. It just was so full of the expression of JOY. Actually there are pictures of my dad that day and others sharing this same expression. I just love that!
Diane,
Thanks. I wish I could see it. 🙂
Oops, I missed the photo party. Thanks for the picture Jean!
My favorite photo? Actually it’s not the photos but the people in the photos that matters, the more significant they are, the more I like them. Especially my family and close friends.
Robert
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Well this question brings back sweet memories from my childhood… My favorite photo is an old picture with my mom, dad and my two little brothers. That picture is my most treasured photo, where I can see the happiness and contentment in my parents face.
Jane,
Thank you for coming by. 🙂
my favorite photo is of my brother and i when we were children. it’s black and white.
i was seven and he was four. i’m dressed up in a white dress with a set of pearls and black mary janes. … probably easter.
he is much shorter than i and is in a little sport shirt and shorts. his knees are banged up (as little boy knees always are) and his shoes are scuffed. he’s wearing a “real” watch.
it wasn’t. but he thought it was. we are both standing in front of a big tree. the sunlight and shade dapple the ground.
now he’s six feet tall and towers over me.
my little brother.