I remember something that I was told over 30 years ago when I was a young missionary. Shortly after I arrived in Japan we had one of our church leaders come and talk to us. It was Elder Kikuchi. He talked about a lot of things that day but what I remember is what he told us about taking pictures. He said that
if you have a camera take pictures of things that you think are new and
interesting even if they are common or something you will see every day. His reasoning was that because it is
something that you see every day it will soon become routine and you won’t even
think of taking a picture. But these are the things that will bring back great memories someday and you will wish that you had a picture. The example he used was a Japanese mailbox.
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| Ironically I never did take a picture of one of these - this is from the web |
Well earlier this week I had one of those “wish I would have
taken a picture” moments. Alana and
Luke and Tracen lived with us for the past 4 months. It was great to have them around.
While they were here Tracen learned a lot of new tricks. He learned how to walk. He learned how to go up and down stairs. He learned out to say “Papa” (short of Papahahashi). After he would wake up in the morning he would climb up
the stairs saying “Papa” all the way.
My home office is at the top of the stairs and he would come looking for me I could see him looking at
me through the railing as he reached top.
At the top of the stairs he would stand up and walk into the
office. Sometimes he would come and have
me pick him up but more often than not he would walk right over to the printer
and start pushing the buttons. (one day he managed to make 99 copies of a blank page)
.
Well, Alana and Luke and Tracen left early on Wednesday morning. Later in the morning about when Tracen would normally
wake up, I was sitting at my desk looking at the top of the stairs missing my little buddy. I felt especially sad when I realized
that I didn’t have a picture of Tracen looking through those railings at me or
standing at the top of the stairs smiling at me or pushing the buttons on the printer. I wish I would have taken a picture.
When Brylie was young, Mike and Angie lived with us as well. By my computer I have a picture of Brylie and me when she came to visit me in home office when she was little.
I'm glad I have this
Angie and Mike were staying another day so I had Tyken and Meika stand in for Tracen before they headed back to Saskatoon
Tyken filling in for Tracen. Tracen would look those rails and try to get my attention.
Meika is a very good substitute. About the same size and age..and a great smile.
She was distracted way before the printer.
Then today I was looking through pictures on my phone and another camera and look what I found.
Its Tracen at the top of the stairs. This is taken from below but that's where he would stop and look at me through the rails on the other side.
Then I found this treasure.
I don't remember taking this picture but I'm sure glad I did.
Growing up my mom liked to take lots of pictures and at times it was embarassing but now I'm glad she did. These days, it seems like everyone takes pictures of everything but often forget those day to day things that seem common or even boring. These are the things we need to take more pictures of.
