Certainly, take photos of food and flowers. Even if you never do anything with them, unless for some reason you need them. Those are a record of memories of times you have enjoyed. But if you don’t have those photos, you won’t really miss them. Not so about photos of people. If you do not have recent photos of people you love, you may wish that you did. You may miss not having those.

My dear cousin, Barry Jr.

Take lots of photos every time you can of loved ones, for we never know when we are spending our last time with a loved one. We never know when the photos we took will be the last photos we will be able to take of a loved one. I learned this when my 40-year-old cousin, Barry Jr., who was like a brother to me, died of a heart attack twenty-one years ago. As adults, we lived in different cities, so we did not see each other often. Thankfully, we had been together a few months previously for a family baby shower, and I had taken some photos of him. Until then, I was not one to take photos often, but for some reason, I took photos that day. I was so glad that I had done so a few weeks later when my beloved cousin passed away suddenly and unexpectedly. I had recent photos of him at the family baby shower, the last photos anyone had of him. I committed to myself then to take photos of loved ones whenever I could.

All three girls were scheduled to go to Camp Merrie-Woode for 5 weeks this summer, but COVID-19 has cancelled camp this year!

I have my camera out and take lots of photos of family and friends whenever we are together. I am not as good about printing them off and framing them. But I do scroll and look at them fairly often. I can share them with others. I can make photo books, although I don’t usually do that. But I have them to keep, as lifelong memories.

Do not think of this as morbid. Think of it as being prepared. We live many days as if we think we will live forever. We know we won’t, at least our logical side knows that. But our emotional side pretends otherwise, although the pretending isn’t intentional, or even conscious. Our family lost a relative just a couple of weeks ago. At 41 years of age, Robby Kinney was much too young to pass. But he did. And family, friends, and communities are left with wonderful memories. Because his wife, Candi, took lots of photos, permanent memories of their life as a family are present to enjoy through the years.

My beautiful Mother, who passed away in 1998.

My precious Mother’s Day Cards.

We just celebrated Mother’s Day. Many of us were not able to be with our loved ones physically, due to COVID-19. I do not have photos of our family this Mother’s Day. What I do have are photos of the wonderful cards I received from them, and of the beautiful table set by our good friend, MoMo, who prepared dinner for Mike and me, social distancing included. This was the first time Mike and I have been with anyone other than each other since March 17. We decided the risk of doing so was small, and we were willing to take it.

A lovely table and dinner hosted by MoMo, social distancing included!

In spite of it all!

I hope that you are doing well and that you had a nice Mother’s Day, however you celebrated. And I hope that you took photos!