Mental Snapshots

One of “those” moments, the kind that kick you back to an earlier time and place or maybe it’s a new snapshot, so it’s a twinkling moment when you know right then and there you are going to be jolted back to this place, this moment over and over again to relish, to remember everything…it’s a mental photograph and every sense, every sentiment, every fragment of you halts for a moment.  It’s like you rise above the moment and drink it all in.

We were talking about some trivial thing, of no meaning. He was standing in front of me and I was propped up on the door frame. He was just about to head out the door that I had just entered through a few minutes earlier after a long day. Habitually in our passing the “crazy fog” hasn’t had time to settle yet, so we quickly give our standard greeting of “have a good night-see you in the morning” and a peck on the cheek and head our separate ways.

But…for a flash of a moment, I saw him. He stood against the wall and I saw him. Snap. He was so handsome (and he was in his work clothes). Snap. His facial features etched in my mind, his smile, his love for me all evident in the mental picture. Snap. I knew I loved him then just a little bit more. An image added to the photo bank for me to draw from….Snap. I knew right then and right there..I would remember this moment. Snap.

One more shot? I told him he could go sit on the front porch; while I was finishing dinner. Somehow he and a new flower pot I had sitting on the front porch become really good friends. I called him for dinner, and he kinda slinked in the front door, eyes averting mine. He was covered in mud from head to toe. One little flower pot and one little boy collided and well…SNAP. His eyes saw mine and immediately registered it may not have been the greatest choice, my eyes met his and knew it was a snap shot I would not soon forget, that I would enjoying pulling from the “cob webbed” corners of my aging memory. Snap. It was a small gift he unknowing gave me that would later bring joy. Snap.

Some people are just plain easy to photograph..aren’t they? My girl- definitely falls into this category. Her creativity, her innocence, her love of nature and animals ensures numerous mental snap shots. “Mom, it’s called a tiny toe plant, can I have it??” She asks as were standing in Lowes. Snap. “Mom, do you know that a giraffe is as heavy as a truck?” SNAP. “Mom, why did they have to call that new show “Cat’s from hell”? I love cats and I hate hell!” She asks me standing in her crazy colored knee high socks and soccer shorts on with her hands on her hips, the frown lines temporarily replacing her magnificent smile. Snap.

There are too many days; I think in a huff…would this day end? Would this year end already? I’m just tired! I have no time for these messes, this silliness! These things weren’t in my agenda for the day! Would they just grow up! Could my spouse just stop doing whatever he’s doing at the moment I’ve decided is wrong, or just stop getting on my nerves!! But then I would miss it wouldn’t I? I would miss those tiny moments of joy, of loveliness that the people around me, gift me with-the snap shots. SNAP.