Frozen in Time

 

What is there to say. I woke up a full hour before the alarm went off so, I took that as a sign to write but what to write about? Yesterday, I had the privilege to attend a wedding and be a back up or second photographer for it. Basically I was invited as a guest and as an amateur/semi-professional photographer, I asked if I could take some photos too as a gift to the bride and groom. Of course they said yes. I love this type of wedding photography, it builds my portfolio and gives me experience plus it isn't as stressful to be the backup. If you don't get the shot then it's no biggie. However, there's something about seeing that bride through a camera lens that takes my breathe away.

Through the lens you see only what you want to see. You can zoom in on just an expression or you can take a wider shot but my favorite is a tight shot of the bride and groom together, holding each other close in the dance. A tight shot on their faces as they enjoy each others embrace for the first time as husband and wife. Smiles, eyes glistening and on occasion, tears. It's all captured by that one special moment on my camera and shared with everyone. 

It's the moment of pure happiness and bliss that I love capturing. The background fades, the other people are gone, it's only the two of them intertwined and one. It's such a beautiful picture of how it's going to be for us when we are the bride and Jesus is the groom. There's nothing more wonderful than a wedding, pasts are erased, the future is not even a thought but that one moment of pure bliss as the groom accepts his bride, it's just... captivating.

My wife and I will be celebrating our 28th Anniversary tomorrow, 28 years ago we went through the  same thing. However, our wedding was, to put it mildly, a train wreck. Neither of us had enough  money for a formal wedding, the wedding dress was a sales dress at JC Penny, my outfit was a button up shirt, khaki pants and snake skin boots. The preacher forgot my wife's name mid ceremony. No flowers, no cake and the reception was at the local Shoney's down the road. To say it was none traditional is being mild.  

However, neither one of us were believers and we were a mess just like the wedding. Ten years later as we had come to Christ and wanted a do over, we renewed our vows and did things properly. Although, I have to say, I've never been one to like the center of attention and it was a bit awkward for me to be the groom again. Yet it was a must, to renew our marriage like we renewed our souls was very much needed. 

Back to seeing that one moment frozen, there's nothing quite like it. The bliss, the happiness, frozen forever. So, taking pictures of the bride in her glory is one of my favorite things to do. It's just...I can't put it into words really. I guess it's the one moment where everything is perfect. I grew up in such an imperfect life where my parents hated each other for as long as I can remember until they divorced when I was around ten. Growing up in that environment and seeing the opposite of marital bliss all my life, creates a jaded perspective when it comes to marriage. However, my wife and I are one of the exceptions. We were on the brink of divorce ourselves then we struggled back to full happiness. It was a task I wouldn't wish on my enemy but well worth it in the end. We've seen it all, experienced all the ranges of emotions and we are going strong better than ever. 

So seeing that one smile, that glistening of the eye as the two look at each other, for me, is just a moment that I'll never grow tired of seeing especially through the lens of a camera. 

Capture that moment with you're someone special. It doesn't have to be at a wedding. A selfie every now and then is good. We always do a selfie when we travel to places. Especially when we do outdoor activities like hikes or scenic places. Kiss, hold each other tight, cheek to cheek and goofy pics all need to be taken as we will one day look back at those special moments and smile, cry and be overjoyed by the small moments that add up to be our lives. Here's an interesting perspective, in 50 years there's over 1.5 billion seconds, over 3 billion if you live to be 100. In those billions of seconds, only a tiny microscopic portion is captured through photos. So take a ton, reminisce often, and live a life worth capturing.

 

Goodbye Sweet Lady

 

In seasons of death, I'm reminded that death isn't something we are supposed to experience. Oh death where is thy sting. However, as our souls are currently the only things that are regenerated to live forever, we wait in anticipation for the day when our bodies join our souls. Meanwhile we watch as those we love deteriorate and take their last breath. We can be saddened or we can celebrate. I can't help being both. 

My 96 year old grandmother is in transition from the physical to the spiritual realms as I write this and it does sadden me to lose yet another parental figure. The last grandparent to go on either side she was born in a different age, time, style, frame of mind and society. 1927 was the year she came into this world and with it the matriarch of our family. Born in Ohio in an unassuming little town she lost her parents at a young age in her late teens. However, my grandfather caught her eye and why not. He was a handsome man through and through. She married him, he left for WW2 and she stayed back with her new in-laws. Talk about an adjustment. My grandfather returned for better or worse and life moved on. My mother and aunt came along eventually and the whole family moved to California where life was good till the girls grew up and graduated. My mother married and then I came along. Again the family picked up and moved across country to Tennessee, to the gateway of the Great Smoky Mountains. Through it all my grandparents were the rocks of our family. My image of family came from spending the holidays at their house. 

My grandfather succumbed to cancer and it left my grandmother alone. She never remarried or even thought of meeting someone else, she was singularly dedicated to her husband in life and death. Something that is very rare today. Their bond, their life was a model for me. They fussed and they had disagreements but they never let themselves get overwhelmed. They never thought of leaving each other. I looked upon them as heroes, mentors and people to emulate as I started a family of my own. 

I remember their 50th wedding anniversary like it was yesterday, yet it was nearly 30 years ago. My grandmother looked over at me and my girlfriend at the time and said, there's the next 50th right there. That girlfriend became my wife the next year, I plan on making my grandmother a profit. Almost 28 years into our marriage and we are looking forward to another twenty plus years. 

She will be missed, yet she will be welcomed as well as my grandparents will once again be reunited after a long separation. She'll see her parents again after missing them for nearly 70 years and most importantly, she'll see Jesus. I'm almost jealous. Tell all of them I said Hi and I'll see you again one day.