For that matter, it won’t be one story either. I’m not sure I’m capable of that, since my career is pretty much that of a glorified storyteller. Oh, do I love stories. Even when I think they’re not that interesting, I prove myself wrong each time.
I don’t know what the real story here is. Is it about being two years behind in editing photos (still)? It’s to the point where I’m editing newborn photos of my near two-year-old nephews. That’s ok, though. I have been giving them free photo shoots for two years now. It’s only a bonus when I email or text them with, “Oh yeah! Just found 455 new photos of Parker eating avocado.” No one hates that. It’s like when you discover a Jodi Picoult book you never read, or a Bruce Hornsby song you’ve never heard. A $20 bill in last year’s winter coat. A pint of unopened peanut butter cup ice cream in the freezer.
Perhaps this story is about a tradition, several years old, and FUN. We used to go to Hancock Shaker Village on random weekdays in early April – mainly because I’m allergic to crowds – although how much of a crowd can you get at a Shaker Village in the middle of the Berkshires? (more than you’d know) These days we have to go on weekends if we want Cassidy to tag along, but apparently we only wanted that once! Instead, we go during spring break – during the tail end of “Baby Animals” season. We get there early because the parking lot fills up. Like I said, crowds are relative. I can go to Disney World without blinking, but you expect that to be crowded. If I go to a grocery store on a random Tuesday morning, or a Shaker Village on a sunny Wednesday, other people make me itchy. I don’t get itchy from pollen or baby animals, though.
It’s just.. perfect. We get free passes from the library, although I shouldn’t admit that, because they save us up to $40 and I always worry they’ll be flying off the library shelves. Alas, they’re always there. We drive the hour or so to the village – through winding New England perfection – and we pass through Camp Greylock and make jokes about the conditions there. There’s always a stop for ice cream (see photos above) and a stop in the gift shop – where each kid picks out one small souvenir. In fact, I can trace my financial success, or at least progress, to these spring break road trips. I remember the first time I bought the kids souvenirs with my own money. It was at Sturbridge Village with Bev and I was sheepish about it.
A third option is that this story is really about children eating thoughtfully. Even though I’m two years behind on editing photos, sometimes that’s for the best because it might take me another two years to catch up. I used to take my camera everywhere and I used to thrust it in my kids’ faces constantly, and sometimes I’d miss out on what we were all doing. Then I started doing more photography full time and it became less fun to be doing it in my personal time. THEN, I realized that was BS because personal photography is important too. I’m still trying to figure all of that out but I will report back.
Not only did it become less fun, but my kids became less fun about it. That doesn’t mean it stopped/stops me, even if I’m two years behind. The thing is – there’s a reason that wedding photographers take their breaks during dinner. Photos of people eating are somewhat terrible! And that also doesn’t mean it stopped/stops me. I think my kids eat quite thoughtfully! It could be because we hand-packed the picnic ourselves, and that can be exciting to kids. You made your bed. You lie in it. Even if it contains carrots, yogurt pouches, and sandwiches with the crust cut off. It tastes like..perfection.
This is me linking up, as one of my favorite things to do, with Finish The Sentence Friday. This week’s topic is Photo Share Friday And there’s still time to write yours. Come link up with your spin: HERE. What’s your photo? What’s its story?
Which photo most invites you to find out the story?
I was smiling with your note about this not being a yogurt ad as my photo share today is an outtake from a sponsored post, which actually made me feel the need to write my story about. Go figure. Oh and I could so relate as I love to take pics and always did of my girls, but it is getting harder as they are getting older and somedays I seriously just don’t have the energy or the patience. But still I do try and sometimes I get great shots of them and sometimes the outtakes are even better 😉
Crikey, your photographs just sing. I love them. Your remark about the timing of wedding photographers breaks was an eyeopener for me. I’d never really thought about it before but yes, it’s true. You never see them around then until the speeches. Here’s to many more great finds like the $20.00 bill in last year’s winter coat pocket.
Out of all the pictures, I am totally wondering what’s sticking out of the pigs butt? What’s the story?
And yes those are beautiful pretzel pictures.
Good question… I think it has something to do with having just given birth?
You are a great storyteller Tamara, that why I love your blog. OMG look at all the babies. My parents where very mindful about making sure we ate healthy when we were younger. As I grew up and became overweight My Mother took a slight interest but it was too little too late.
I laughed at “this is basically a yogurt ad,” and then even more later with the disclosure that it’s not a yogurt ad. LOL. The photos are so gorgeous, Tamara.
Just like yogurt is rich in the good for your tummy bacteria, your photos of Des and Scarlet makes us feel good all over, Tamara. I love Scarlet’s “Deep Thinker” pose and stare right into the camera. Non dairy based yogurt and kefir are my favorite tummy tonics, and all I need to do is look at your precious, priceless pics to give me the perfect pick-me-up!
Photos of baby animals and your sweet children. . .what more could we want in an awesome FTSF.
My Liese is the worst to take photos of! It kills me. I wonder if she’s going to be like why are their no photos of me mom? My answer, because you were like a blur that was too hard to catch!
“Pretty much every story has a hot core of infinite other stories.”
Totally get that (yeah, I know, like, ‘duh’)
It’s like the ‘Once upon a times’ show, in slightly transparent lettering everywhere you look. (My earliest realization of this, way before I got myself saddled with this writing jones, would be driving along the interstate and catching a glimpse of a car full of family, flying past in the opposite direction and it’d occur to me, ‘a family headed towards…’
nice pitchas!
Loving all of the beautiful photos! You children are so beautifully photogenic! And that photo of the baby resting on it’s mama’s leg….no words.
Absolutely gorgeous photos!!! x
Des staring off in the distance and Scarlet’s eyes in that last photo. Oh my god. Seriously!
Love the “yogurt ad” pic!
I think you may always be 2yrs behind. We’ve come to accept it as just being Tamara. ❤️ BTW that Hancock Shaker Village sounds spectacular. Maybe one day I’ll be able to visit and preferably during baby animals season too.
I was going to say almost exactly what Kristi said, so instead I will say that baby animals are so stinkin’ cute. I don’t even like yogurt, but your kiddos may get me to try…
Well those pictures are of course, making me smile and sigh… You are SO good at what you do, and I can imagine how now that it’s work, the personal side of it shifts. Two years behind is something that I think we all are pretty much living in- whether it’s photos or cleaning closets or writing that long lost friend, ya know?
You have the photos. THAT’S what counts. You have the rest of your life to edit them all!