Thanks for the Memories

A few weeks ago, I signed up to participate in a 52 week photography challenge.  Not unlike the blog, it's designed to keep you working, thinking and creating.  So when this weeks theme was announced, I knew that it would be something that I had to share with the boys.  The theme was Childhood Memories. 

Memories are funny.  Or maybe it's just my memory.  I don't remember many big events, parties, holidays or celebrations.  I do remember moments, faces, a few song lyrics (I think Hello Dolly is permanently ingrained in my mind!) and odd little bits and pieces here and there.  I try to share all of them with the boys, but time gets away from us all.  We spend more time making new memories than sitting and going over old ones. 

So first, I'll show you my picture...then I'll fill you in on the memory.

This is my grandfathers camera.  While I really don't remember the camera, the strap has been burned into my memory for as long a I can remember.  It was rare to see him without a camera, whether it was vacation, Christmas or just a visit.  He took pictures of everyone and everything.  There are pictures of us opening presents and playing in the sand.  He took all of our family pictures.  He was standing on the beach in Florida taking pictures of what would be the most famous and tragic event in NASA history - the explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger.  He always had his camera.  And while I can't remember the brand of camera or the type of film it took, I will always remember that strap hanging from his neck.  A picture is worth a thousand words.  Grandpa may have left us early, but he left us with hundreds and thousands of his words that I will cherish forever. 

The boys make fun of me on a regular basis for having a camera in my hand at all times.  But if I leave them with half of the memories that Grandpa left us with, I'll consider my life a success.