I totally stole this from a website, it's a writing prompt. You take a photo album, pick out the 14th photo, study it, then describe the way it makes you feel. Cheesy, but interesting. I'm using a photo album my aunt made me after my grandparents passed away. She personalized photo albums for me, my sisters, and couple cousins. They basically involve older family members we were closer to, and center around us. Mine even has the only pics of my parents wedding that I've seen. Anyway, here goes. I'll describe the photo, then the emotions it evokes.
He's dressed in his best suit, and she's in her white dress. Their mouths are hidden behind a small white basket of bright red roses, and clusters of baby's breath. Her short brown hair falls into her face. Both have upturned, smiling eyes. She holds her arm in front of her, trying to look cute. He's holding the basket up in front of them. He's slightly in front of her. It's a barely conceivable gesture of protection.
They are the picture of innocence. Smiling, laughing, and hiding bashfully. Two children, The scene is happy. What isn't happy about a wedding? It's a start. It's everything. They're a symbol for love. Yet, they're so ignorant. Oblivious. They'll never guess what's coming. They could never imagine that the people they smiled for would fall apart so quickly. The two are so beautiful, it kills me. They're happy, if only they knew it wouldn't last very long. Only a few confused, hidden years. It's so ironic their smiles are hidden, because they don't realize the smiles won't exist forever. Why doesn't innocence prevail? Somewhere along the road, we lose some part of ourselves. I wish I could warn them. Such awful moments are ahead of them. Soon enough they'll be surrounded drunk relatives, stolen money, overused prescription pills, weed, children without marriages, drugs, stealing, guns, fights, screams, stress, life, and all of it. These moments won't last. They won't even always be the best of cousins. Not at all. But right now, none of that exists. All they have is love, hope, and childhood. If only they knew.
If only we'd known our family was going to fall apart. If only we'd been able to save them. To help them. To stop them.
It's moments like that that we live for.
ReplyDeleteObviously, thinking the future through a little bit better would have prevented a lot.. but you can only control yourself. It's sad, because we should always aim to be happy and smiling. It's sad to see it fall apart. And it's sad to see what types of destruction come with it.
(I think I know how you feel about this kind of stuff. Maybe my family may not be quite so dramatic, but there's still lots of insane things going on. Let's just say we had to forget family Christmas parties a looong time ago..)
As always, love you Jaime =]
I agree, and thanks Jenna, and I'm sorry, that's not good :[ I'm lucky enough to have two very different families, and yet so similar. Isn't that how we all are anyway? Love you too! :]
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