Thursday, August 11, 2011

Expressions from an Average, Everyday ... - Digital Scrapbooking 101

Lately I've been thinking a lot about life - and how we only get one chance to live it. ?I have a wonderful Aunt who passed away at the young age of 42. ?I inherited boxes and boxes of her photos. They are priceless to me because they are remnants of her view of this world that can never be duplicated. ?Every time I look at them I feel close to her because I am seeing her life through her lens.

She saved everything - like this family photo taken the month I was born. ?My aunt is to the left of my uncle in the glasses. ?My mom is to her left. ?With my grandmother in front of my mom, I wonder if I was here yet...?

image from farm7.static.flickr.com

It is so interesting to go through her photo library because she took so many photos and saved every image her siblings sent her. ?I believe she has the most complete collection of family memories of all my family. ?

I love this photo of my grandparents right before a trip (I especially love their clothes and the car).

image from farm7.static.flickr.com
Even more priceless are these photos of my Grandpa Lillo having fun. ?This is exactly how I remember him - I loved spending time with him. ?My parents don't have one photo of him. ?Without my Aunt, I wouldn't have any either. ?Thankfully she took the time...

image from farm7.static.flickr.com
It's amazing - every single family photo taken through the years except a few were by my Aunt. ?This is incredibly remarkable considering I grew up in Arizona and she lived most of her life n West Yellowstone, Montana. ?Here's one of me and my parents...

image from farm7.static.flickr.com
And another about a year and a half later after my twin sisters had arrived. ?Even as a toddler I looked a little overwhelmed :) -

image from farm7.static.flickr.com
The crazy thing is there are literally hundreds of photos of all her siblings and their families just like this - she has more photos of her nieces and nephews than their own parents do. ?It is pretty remarkable. ?In fact, at her funeral we all had a good laugh as her nieces and nephews spoke and each and every one talked about how they just knew they were her favorite. ?She treated everyone like that.

I also love the images she took that were strictly her view on life and the things in her everyday - ?her beloved white mustang I rode in so many times as a toddler...

image from farm7.static.flickr.com

Or this photo of a Gorilla throwing a tantrum in a zoo - on the back there's only a date - November 15, 1974. ?I wonder if I was with her. ?Some of my favorite childhood memories of her are zoo outings and going to feed the ducks.

image from farm7.static.flickr.com

I love this shot of a Saguaro cactus from who knows where - it brings back fond memories of my home state -

image from farm7.static.flickr.com

Moving day with her friends -

image from farm7.static.flickr.com

And last but not least, bears like they used to be in Yellowstone - they'd come right up to your car window for food...not that I'm saying that is a good thing. :)

image from farm7.static.flickr.com
My Aunt Jana was a memory keeper. ?She captured and preserved memories from the time she was a teenager all the way throughout her life. ?

I know these photos may be a boring slideshow to those who didn't know her, but they are priceless to those who did.

You have a view that is uniquely yours. ?All this work you do to capture your life and preserve memories is priceless. ?Your work ?as a memory keeper is something that will touch generations. ?It is SO WORTH it.

So remember that the next time you are working on your photo library and smile. :)

?

Source: http://www.digiscrap101.com/2011/08/expressions-of-everyday-life.html

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