February 22, 2015-2025
A Photo Tradition Continues
On Feb. 22, 2015, we were in recovery mode. Little Bean was 23 days old. After a difficult delivery, mama was on the med. We had the house to ourselves for the first time in a while. So I took a picture of the two of them.
On Feb. 22, 2016, Little Bean was one year and 23 days old when we had just finished a story time right before a nap. She was in such a good, happy mood. So I took a picture.
On Feb. 22, 2017, she was two years and 23 days old and it had snowed the night before. She was excited and eager to get outside. She tossed on a pair of plastic sunglasses and was ready to bolt out into the snow. So I took a picture.
Finally, on Feb. 22, 2018, at three years and 23 days and after a particularly delicious noodle soup lunch, she said, “I’m gonna slurp this up,” and she did. So I took a picture.
It took me until the fifth year, 2019, to realize that I had taken a picture of her every day on this date and so, on Feb. 22, 2019, we began a tradition that has continued to this day. (You’ll be reading this on the 23rd.)
I don’t know. I try to walk through life remembering that time is just made up, that the past and the future exist tucked nicely into each other and that all that went before and all that is now and all that’s to come is, well, us.
I think a lot about the shifting tides. Where does the water end and the sand begin. The answer is that it doesn’t because it’s always moving.
A yearly photo doesn’t change that, doesn’t ground me into the present any more than a video would or a photo during any part of the year.
But… well, this provides me a sort of annual taking of account, a confirmation that she’s ok, that we made through, that her cheeks are still rosy and that her smile still crushes me. Maybe it’s just a heart check for me. (She thinks it’s a goofy tradition by the way.)
Anyway, is there any annual tradition (I mean aside from birthdays, holidays etc.) that you participate in to keep you grounded that helps keep you moving forward? Tell us about them!
What a great tradition! (I'm sure Uma will appreciate when she's adult.)
Jennifer and I have a weekend tradition: not every weekend, but often enough, we start the morning listening to a jazz album by the late, great Marian McPartland playing the Benny Carter songbook, with Benny Carter playing along with her on his compositions. There is so much joy and love in these jazz songs, and they make even a breakfast of coffee and cheerios a celebration of life, of sunshine and cats looking out the window, and of how time, people, and the world all change, but you can still celebrate love through music and enjoying it together. And sometimes, that is just enough.