Sometimes the picture speaks in ways we cannot. I’ve been sifting through tubs and tubs of family photos, digitizing them and organizing them in folders to share with family members who, like me, would rather have them on a flash drive than taking up prime real estate in photo albums in the back of the attic. In some cases, I’m sharing via Facebook Messenger if I find those taken with friends who would enjoy the throwback. On a random weekday morning last week, I sent this one to my childhood friend Nancy so we could both remember the years we created floral arrangements with the help of our mothers as we competed in the annual Garden Club’s Christmas Flower Shows.
I wasn’t expecting this response, and it showed me how the power of the photograph can often reach back through the years and find the places that older generations can remember – – like trying to scratch an itch that you never quite can find, and then suddenly you find the sweet spot of relief. This is Nancy’s reply:
How to Make it Count
you’ve bought the shoes
you’ve worn the dress
you’ve taken the trip
now….
send the picture
tell the story
share the memories
Common Threads 
THIS, Kim, is a poignant message that I could NOT have imagined 16 days ago when I started this crazy project that was waiting for someone (you) to nudge. I was texting with my cousin LATE last night and EARLY this morning about photo and stories and our heritage. We’ve talked more lately than in decades. I’ve had messages from relatives who had not talked to me in a decade thanking me for sharing! And, I actually thought they had forgotten my name!
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Anita, I’m so happy that this has been a point of connecting and sharing memories and stories between you and those you love. And I’m loving reading all the stories you are sharing. I will be back from another time zone on Monday and will catch up. I’m at The Stafford Challenge writing conference in Portland, and I struggle when I leave my regular routine, but I’ll be able to read all day when I get back home. š Thanks for reading and encouraging me to keep going.
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Oh Kim, what a blessing you gave your friend and her Mom on a hard dayāconnection and reassurance.
Such a good reminder that small acts of kindness and connection so often mean more than we can imagine.
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Sharon, thanks. It was so random that I must agree – – I don’t think Nancy or I have exchanged texts in years, and then that happened.
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