Why do I take so many pictures?

I wish I knew how many times I've been asked that question. I really do. It's no secret that my camera goes with me everywhere I go, and I take pictures constantly. It drives my kids nuts sometimes, but I do it anyway....I mean really, isn't part of my job to make sure that my kids are constantly annoyed?

To be completely honest though, it's because I don't want to forget a thing.

Take today, for example....

Early morning weather check - it would appear
that Mother Nature still hasn't regulated
her meds.

Alex hiding from the camera during breakfast.

Sometimes I don't even mind catching my messy house in the pictures.
It's messy, but there's food in the cabinets, hot cinnamon rolls for
breakfast, and fresh brownies for the kids' lunches.
I think we're all going to survive a little clutter.

A little bit of low-lying fog on the way to school this morning.

And this - I just thought that this was cool.

Emily, with the typical "why so many pictures, mom?" look.

I just can't resist a good sunrise, even if my windows are dirty.

Kansas. Period.

Green wheat and a wild turkey.

Seriously? Why do people do this?
(For the record, they've been there for over a year.)

Nothing like looking ahead and seeing a train that appears to be coming
right at you.

I love being able to catch these moments.

Playing under the bridge on the way home from school.

Love this - it's so typical. Alex being the daredevil, while Daniel
is "being tricky" and walking backwards. Let it be known that Daniel
chose his own clothes this morning. I take no responsibility
for his fashion choices.

Probably some of my favorite pictures of this kid are of him
sleeping in weird places.

These are the moments that I don't want to lose.

Life can change so fast. I follow the page of a woman who we know who lost her young son in a tragic accident earlier this year. She posts pictures and memories of him regularly, and I can't help but think to myself that she is so lucky that she took lots of pictures of him - pictures that probably seemed silly at the time have so much significance now, both to her and to others.

I was reminded again tonight about how quickly life can change. As I mentioned on my facebook page, I managed to stalk locate an old friend from college. He was my then-boyfriend's best friend, and there was a big group of us that all hung out and did a LOT of drinking together. We all went our separate ways after we left Penn State and most of us lost touch with each other. As soon as I found him tonight, I sent him a friend request and we started chatting and catching up on the past *cough* almost 20 *cough* years.

As it turns out, the guy that I was dating - his best friend - died last year from an aneurysm. On his birthday. He was only about a month younger than me.

Life is too short. In the blink of an eye, it can all change...or it can end. I want to remember each moment - because we never know how many of those moments we have left.



Thanks for the reminder, Rich. May you rest in peace.