2012 was a year in images. I stopped writing, stopped finding time and meaning in spelling out events. Why bother, when a photo captures a face so much more accurately? Accuracy, it turns out, isn't what I yearn for. It's the words that capture the history, the progression, the shades of grey between one photo and the next. This year is the year that words will return.
I have vowed to record more of my children's lives than their progressive weights and heights. In photographs, you might compare Tilly's eyes with Penny's, and find them to be a similar shape, a slightly different hue of blue. A photo can tell that story. But it might be harder to capture on film how Tilly's eyes devoured everything they lighted upon -- hungry, learning, greedy for more. Penny looks around a room, interested, yes, but accepting the information rather than grabbing for it. Tilly Tiger, we called her. And now Peaceful Penny, who is satisfied to be here, content to let family happen around her, beneath her gaze.
So thank you, 2012, for teaching me about composition and the power of light. I hope this year to find a balance between the beauty of being able to physically see a moment again, captured exactly, and being able to relive the love and chaos and shining newness of this chapter. So, hello again.
I have vowed to record more of my children's lives than their progressive weights and heights. In photographs, you might compare Tilly's eyes with Penny's, and find them to be a similar shape, a slightly different hue of blue. A photo can tell that story. But it might be harder to capture on film how Tilly's eyes devoured everything they lighted upon -- hungry, learning, greedy for more. Penny looks around a room, interested, yes, but accepting the information rather than grabbing for it. Tilly Tiger, we called her. And now Peaceful Penny, who is satisfied to be here, content to let family happen around her, beneath her gaze.
So thank you, 2012, for teaching me about composition and the power of light. I hope this year to find a balance between the beauty of being able to physically see a moment again, captured exactly, and being able to relive the love and chaos and shining newness of this chapter. So, hello again.
5 comments:
Thank you 2012 for Penny!! Such lovely photos.
So true! It's so hard to discipline yourself (myself) to create words pictures when a young mother's alone time is so precious and the visual image satisfies (and immediately gratifies?). Way to go, Astrid. You'll thank yourself one day. We have almost a two year gap in our family history and several years before I started blogging. I'm hoping they'll get the main idea by piecing it all together. ;)
Thanks, Al. Can't wait for you to meet her!
Introverted art -- loved your profile introduction! And what gorgeous paintings!
Thanks, Bethany! We're too spoiled now with the ease of sharing lives through images -- but what a joy it is to slow it down, letter by letter. I'm amazed and inspired that you can do so much -- and with double the children!!
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