I sold a photo once – for a nursery. And I’m not really a photo-seller. That said, I sold a photo for a textbook once! I’ll have to find that. Anyway, the photo I sold (above) was from a near perfect evening in which we stumbled upon a Hot Air Balloon Festival. Which is apparently something you do. It was only a week before I got pregnant with Des and it was one of the last perfect one-kid weekends, before we realized someone else was coming to our party. And oh, what a party.
Feelings.
Scarlet used to have this book called “Feelings.” We got it from the Pediatrician’s office during one of her babyhood check-ups. “Feelings” was the first big book they gave her. It features pictures of children in various comfortable and uncomfortable settings and their facial expression reactions to their surroundings. Each page has one word to describe the child’s feelings: “Happy.” “Sad.” “Scared.” “Angry.” “Nervous.” She didn’t understand the book for a long time and probably tried to chew it a few times, but when she was newly two, understanding feelings had become a bit of an obsession for Scarlet. It was probably the number one topic of conversation during our time together. To her, feelings were divided into neat little categories.
She was happy, sad, angry, scared, etc.. And anything but happy was only temporary. Her goal was to get through the hard parts and get right to happy. Her other goal was to get me through the hard parts and get me right to happy. These were important life lessons from a two-year-old. If only it was as easy for me. Living with Scarlet is STILL a bit like having a live-in therapist.
And if only I could tell her the things on my mind these days – not the two-year-old, but the now nine-year-old – and how they might affect me, and her. I’m not ready yet. Life isn’t ready yet. And mostly – it’s all good things. The lucky choices we get to make sometimes. It’s a little like floating up, up and away, though – without anything tethering you too tightly to the ground. Sometimes you’ll sail beautifully, and other times you’ll get blown and whipped around. Some people like that feeling – the dizziness of letting go but ONLY because you have no other choice.
Sometimes I like it too.
Scarlet and I used to walk down the street, on perfectly sunny and warm days, holding hands. Smiling. Greeting passersby. We would drink in the air. She’d turn to me and ask, “Are you happy, Mama?” I’d reply, “Yes. Yes, I am.” She would say, “Oh, I’m happy too.” And we were.
This is me linking up, as one of my favorite things to do, with Finish The Sentence Friday. This week’s topic is “Photo Prompt: Up.” (and variations of the UP theme/prompt) And there’s still time to write yours. Come link up with your spin: HERE. What’s your photo? What’s its story?
So, what would you share?
