Friday, March 9, 2012

Photographs


       The question today from NaBloPoMo is would you rather lose your blog or your pictures?  Although I have put hours of time into my blog, I would much rather kiss it goodbye than lose my pictures.  Last August I got to experience what it was like first hand to lose my blog.  The web host I used had decided to go out of business.  Since I used their software to update my blog, I lost all access to it.  It was pure luck that my domain renewal was due a couple short months after.  Instead of renewing the domain name of the site I no longer could update, I let it go.  I was sad about it, but excited for the future.  I took the knowledge and experience I had acquired writing and working with that website and created a new website on blogger.  I have everything I have ever written saved, so in actuality I came out of a disaster that rocked the worlds of many fellow bloggers a little wiser and no worse for wear.






        If I lost my pictures I would be devastated.  My parents and grandparents are all gone, and I would be devastated if I lost the pictures I have of them.  It is all I have left except for my memories.  Even the memories are beginning to fade into the recesses of my mind.  The pictures help keep my memories vivid and alive.  Without pictures, I would find it difficult to keep my parents alive for my kids and for myself.  At the same time I would be heartbroken to lose my wedding pictures, pictures of my kids when they were babies, and even pictures of my pets when they were small.  It would be really hard for me.  I do have a picture of them all frozen in my mind of exactly how they looked then.  Still, I would be lost without the documented proof to cherish.  My pictures may not hold much value to other people, but they mean the world to me.  

        When my Dad died, I was floored by how little my sister valued pictures.  She didn’t seem to want any of them.  In the end, she brought all of them to me before she moved away.  She left them behind without a backward glance or any visible remorse.  I guess I am a reminiscent fool, because I like nothing better than to dust off the old photographs and remember.  It is ironic that I personally avoid the camera lens at all costs so there are few pictures of me, and lots of everyone else.  I honestly hate pictures of me.  I may have to swallow my distaste of being photographed  for my kids sake.  Someday when I am dead and long gone from this world, my kids will probably appreciate pictures of their mommy as much as I cherish pictures of mine until next time when I give you another glimpse into the life of a trucker’s wife.


24 comments:

  1. Pictures win, hands down for me, too. My blogs were from my mind and important to me, but they aren't REAL life. Pictures are REAL life and frozen moments in time. I love my pictures.

    Again ~ you got it just right ~ ♥

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    1. Jo, well said. Pictures are real life frozen forever in time. It never occurred to me before my parents how much I would come to treasure their photos. I shared a few here. The one is my dad as a senior in high school and my mother as a little girl. I wouldn't trade them for the world. You can always go onto blogger and start a new free blog!! You can't replace those precious moments captured forever in pictures. Thank you for stopping by to share your wisdom and comment!

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  2. If there was a fire in my house, I'd make sure my family was safe and if I could, I would grab my pictures. I completely agree with you.

    What a horrible experience though, losing your blog! So glad you didn't stop blogging!

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    1. Wendy, losing the blog was pretty bad. I actually paid a company to design a website to blog on. Seems pretty stupid now that I know about free blog sites. It wasn't all bad because I walked away with a load of knowledge. I was always into the designing aspect and had even went to college for graphic design. I discovered I really liked to write. Who would have thought it? Not me!! LOL Thank you for stopping in to read and for your comments!

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  3. I agree, it would be horrible to lose all your pictures. I just can't imagine. Right now there are people not far from here who have lost everything in a tornado. For me, my pictures would be the one thing I would miss the most. You look beautiful in your pictures Kathy, but I do understand how you feel. I usually take the pictures too so that I'm not in them. I hate pictures of me.

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    1. KAT, I can't imagine having to deal with the aftermath of a tornado. Those poor people!! When you come down to it, the most important thing is survival. Pictures simply document the moments in life we wish to never forget. I would be devastated if anything ever happened to my pictures and mementoes!! Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments!

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  4. Kathy, I agree with you - pictures are so special. I can hardly look at my kids' baby pictures because they make me cry! I have boxes and boxes of pictures that I swear I'm gonna scrapbook someday! I was going to do it last summer.....but it never happened. It's gonna' be a big job, but I want to make photo books for all my kids. Anyway, nice post!

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    1. Beachlover, I am a little ashamed I made elaborate scrapbooks of my first baby, and didn't with my second. Life just gets more hectic when you add another kid to the mix. I did make sure to fill his baby book to overflowing with photos and little tidbits. That will be a fun, time consuming project!! You should do it!! I should do it too for my son. Thank you for stopping by to read and comment. I am so pleased you enjoyed it!!

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  5. Kathy, I keep reading of people losing their blogs....how horrible!! I'm glad you're still blogging and survived it! I am so like you! I don't like to have my pictures taken either! But I so treasure all my photos! And I've know people like your sister, who weren't attached to their photos. Hmmm. I don't understand them. To me, they are a link to the past, and to the person. A treasure! I'm glad you got the photos! At least she brought them to you! When I was a "slum lord" in another career, I would see people move off and leave all their family photos. Again, can I say....hmmmmm. Great post Kathy!

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    1. Holly, I don't get folks like my sister either. She has always been a complete mystery to me. :P I was surprised she did bring them to me. I still have every single one! I am happy I discovered that I can write, and I really enjoy doing it, and I am not half bad at it. LOL It never occurred to me to write until I got a cold call from that website company to write for them. I used to write in school because I had to. Now I write because I like to and want to. Thank you for stopping by to read my words and comment!! So pleased you liked what you found here!

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  6. I'd be really disappointed to lose my blog and reading your post lets me realize it could happen. I'll add "back up my blog" to my list of things to get done. My photos are far more important however. I don't always look at them because I get too emotional and sentimental, but I sure don't want to lose them. They'd be the thing I grab if our house was on fire and I was able to grab something.

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    1. eliselorraine, I am with you there on both counts! Thank you for stopping in and for your comments!

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  7. Such an enjoyable blog! I've awarded you the Versatile Blogger award. Stop by my blog at http://www.emptyhousefullmind.com to pick up your badge and guidelines for this award. Have a great weekend!

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    1. Sharon, thank you! I am honored! I am so pleased you enjoy my blog. Thank you for stopping in and for the award!

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  8. I have family members like your sister too.. Some of them couldn't care less about pictures or doilies, quilts, etc. and I get it to a degree. I'm a picture person myself and I love my dad's old toys and the quilts that once kept my great great grandma warm hold a special place for me but the doilies I've passed on and some of my family sqwuaked about that but to each his own I suppose. I wouldn't trade my pictures for anything tho..

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    1. Magical Mystical Mimi, I do believe we must be kindred spirits because I feel exactly the same way. I am sentimental and care about stuff like that. To my sister, it is just clutter. Thanks for stopping in.

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  9. My mom hated pictures as well. It was understood when she was here that she didn't like pictures but, now that she's gone, I wish I'd pressured her about it a little more. The funny part is, as I'm typing this, I'm realizing how much I don't like taking pictures very much either. We are our own worse critique. I'm with you, pictures are most important. Glad you're willing to take a few for your kids.

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    1. Sabrina, it is so hard when they are gone because there are no more opportunities to take pictures. Life is to short!! What you say is so true!! Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments!

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  10. hi kathy. i love pictures, too. and like you, i do not like my photo taken.. but i figure someday i will appreciate everything i complain about how bad i looked, or this or that.... and like you said, my kids will probably want to hold on to something.. to remember.

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    1. Danneromero, I found when my parents died I cherished each and every single picture of them. They were all I had left of them except for my memories and I had to have them!! I can't imagine my kids feeling any different. Thank you for stopping in and for your comments!

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  11. you have really given me a perspective on pictures! Most of the time I don't feel like making the effort. thank you for this post!! and your pictures are great!!
    I am your newest follower..pls follow back if you can.

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    1. Momto8, thank you! Most of the time I don't feel like making the effort either. I am so pleased you enjoyed my post and my pictures. Thank you for stopping in, your comments, and for following!!

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  12. That's me, Kathy. Losing my pictures would be devastating. I love my pictures-they are all the memories I have of so many family members. And even looking back at my children as they have grown is so special. There are so many things that I have forgotten over the years, and the pictures bring it all back. My husband has told me I need more pictures of me for the kids, and he's right. I will do almost anything to keep from having my picture taken.

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    1. Theresa, isn't it ironic that the people that value pictures the most are the ones most likely to hide when a camera is pointed in their direction? LOL Thank you for stopping by to read and for your comments!!

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