Moments Captured in Time

One of my post retirement "to do" was to sort through thousands of photos that have captured moments in my life timeline.   I knew this was an important task as I have witnessed,  when a loved one leaves us,  those left behind are faced with decisions of what to do with all these photos.   I've vowed that my children will not have to sort through tons of photos and make decision or try to determine who is in the photo.   I had tons of photos in photo albums, I decided to remove the photos and store them in an orderly fashion, grouped by person, family, friends, church, camp etc.  I am a bit excessive compulsive believe it or not,  I am on day 4 of this process and am nowhere near the end.

I wish I would have been a better photographer, but 30-40 years ago we did not have the technology available to use, in processing photos as we have today.   Regardless of the quality of the photograph, as my eyes gaze upon each photo,  I can recall the details that surround the photograph.  Yes, I am to the age that I don't remember everyone in the photo but I do have independent recall of the details of the photos.   I've smiled, laughed, cried and experienced every emotion a human can feel, as I've gone through each photo.

I've sorted photos into family piles.  I have a Pete (brother), Tommy (brother), Gloria (sister) and Diana (sister) pile.   What I have decided to do, is to give photos to each of my siblings that either have them, their spouse or children in the photo.  I will leave it to them to share with their children or to keep for themselves.  Just as long as I don't have to clean up their photos someday - that is a joke.

I have a cousin pile that I will be sending to Becky, Doreen, Danny, Genevieve.  They can decided what to do with the photos.

As it should be, the largest pile of photos are of my Priscilla and Alfredo Jr., my children.  I will attempt to sort their photos into equal piles.  I remember that people always told me,  you take far more photos of your first child, than of your second or subsequent children.  I don't think that is true in my instance.   These photos are my prized possessions.  They remind me of yesteryear and how much fun I had loving my Priscilla and Alfredo Jr (Brother).  Their daddy,  Alfredo Sr would take them camping, fishing and hiking while I worked.  They did not get their sense of adventure from me.   They were lucky to have such a fun daddy and the photos are a reminder of those fun days.   Now that Priscilla and Alfredo Jr (Brother) are both gone, to make their own way in the world, most  days these photos are the only reminder of their existence.   The only problem is that I sit and boo hoo (cry)  for hours remembering the good times we all had.    I often wish they were little again so I could hug and kiss them.  Their needs, were my top priority, now there priority is needing to be away from me.   This is how life works.   I don't like it much but it is life.

Family vacation photos in Jalcocotan Nayarit.  I was thrilled my children were able to make these trips and I was able to capture them in photos.   I have so many fun photos of Alfredo's family and so glad my children got to spend time with their Perea cousins and their Perea Aunts, Uncles and Grandparents. 

My next step in this process will be to write on the back of all the photos, or at least as many as I can remember.  Age does amazing things to ones recall ability.   My advice is, when you take and develop photos, write on the back of them as soon as they are developed.   I have sat with my mother looking at old photos and she has no idea who is the subject of the photo.   Once it is gone, you don't remember - therefore I've realized (a little late)  it is important to identify them while you can still remember.   

I am amazed at all of my friendships I shared in the yesteryear.  Those friends and times are gone.  Very few friends remain.  Even less would remain if it were not for Facebook.  It has been great to be reunited with so many friends from a time long ago.

The next largest pile of photos is church and youth camp photos.  Church was an important part of my life as were the youth camps, where so many friendships and alliances were formed.   Church is what we did, it was what we were about.   Those photos are in a pile for subject identification.   I will post some of these on Facebook for my youth camp FB friends to view.

I was thrilled to find photos of all my friends from Shriner's Hospital.  Wow, had not seen these photos in over 30 years.  Such great memories and times were shared, with so many people from as far away as Bolivia.  Danny Balderrama, Cindy, Rae Ann, Robin Andrade, Tim Mosher and so many friends that I have photos of.  Dr. Olivero and Dr. Stevenson were so amazing!   I've decided that my love of Halloween comes from my Shriner days.  I have photos of our Halloween costumes and party it was the bomb!   The darkest time in my life is illuminated by wonderful friendships I hold dear to my heart.   I recall my Tio Gabino Martinez, my hero, he would visit me every week day at Shriner's Hospital, because he knew my parents were only able to make it out on the weekends.  I don't think I would have made it through without him and his encouragement. We formed such a great friendship during that time.   May he RIP!  

I found photos of friends who have passed from this life.  Jackie Broadbent was my best friend from my childhood in West Ogden.  Neva Merritt was a friend I met in Jr. High School at Mound Fort. we remained friends for years.    May each of them rest in peace.  It was difficult to fight back the tears as I gazed upon the photos. 

I found old photos of my former work mates which I have now thrown away.  Some memories are not worth holding on to.

I found photos of so many weddings.  I at one time made wedding cakes, wow... I'd forgotten about them until I found these photos.   I was a bridesmaid for Sonia, Selma, Carol, Laurie (married to my brother Pete), Leonard and Becky (maybe more but... well you know it is an age thing).   A flower girl at my sister Gloria's wedding, I was so little and cute.   I went to many weddings and was supportive to many individuals, who didn't share the importance of supporting me at my wedding or my daughters wedding.   There I said it.

I made a mom and dad pile.   I am most amazed at how much my parents have changed over the years.  It is crazy, when you are close to someone and see them every day,  you don't see them changing.  When you look at old photos you see dramatic changes.  I am so grateful to have my parents with me today!  One day the photos will be all I have left.   I don't look forward to that day!

I found photos of my mother's step siblings.  I did not come to appreciate them as individuals until later in life.  They indeed are kind and amazing people!

Last but not least I have so many photos of babies.  You know those photos they take when the baby is born... TJ, Jamie, Rachel, Stephanie, Angel, Oscar Benjamin and so many others.  Makes me wonder where times goes.   

Now that I am an emotional mess, I will continue to sort through photos.  I am grateful that I was able to capture so many moments in time.  The photos serve as a reflection of the moments that were captured in my lifetime and those individuals who shared my joys and sorrows.   These photos, in the future may not mean anything to the person who finds them, but to me they reflect how I turned into me. 

Organize your photos
Identify your photos
Share your photos with others if you are not in them