My life through a lens!

For as long as I can remember, I have been fascinated by cameras and pictures. My dad had the same issues, I think, because he was always buying a newer, better camera, taking close up pictures of insects and sunset photos of handgliders in Colorado when I was very young.
I moved a lot in my life. Every year or so until I moved to England. Each time, we would get new furniture, new art, new towels, everything, but I clung to my little box of photos. I did not have my history surrounding me. It was always new places, people, friends, schools. I did have my history in that box. It made me feel more like I had a past, since each time we moved, I would be asked the question, "What is your home town?" I didn't know. My parents were from one place, I was born in another, and had lived in many others.
My husband really did not understand the importance of photos to me until I was pregnant with our second child. By then, I had discovered scrapbooks. I had put together my life in books. I had already made lovely pages for my oldest child. It reminded me of the little moments that tend to escape on a daily basis.
When I was getting together the camera and items for the hospital, he was muttering about how much I spend on cameras, photo developing, and he just could not believe I had purchased a digital camera also. I showed him the book of our oldest child.
As he turned the pages and smiled, looking at her funny faces, her tiny curles, her looks of surprise, and the pictures of her first birthday, I knew he was crossing his own line. About halfway through the book, he started sentences with, "Do you remember when she used to do this ALL the time?"...and I knew...he would see it. Those things that you are sure you will remember forever sometimes must be jostled.
He closed the book and looked at me. It felt like he was looking at me for the first time. He said, "You have pictures ready to be picked up right now, don't you."
Slowly, I nodded yes.. I always did. I dropped them off practically weekly.
"I will go get them for you. Be right back." He went out the door, I'm almost sure he left so that I wouldn't see too much emotion.
Since that day, he has not said one negative thing about the cameras, pictures, books... He often will offer to pick up pictures or frames for me now. He will make the time to look at the latest pictures and even ask if I would mind printing a larger one for him.
If photography is an addiction for me, which it may very well be, I am grateful for it. I still cherish my photos. I still display them around me wherever I go. I still will make time to take a picture whenever possible, because I can never ever get that moment back in real time. Even so, it's kind of like cheating time, because I can look at my pictures and remember the fun, joy and general silliness of that day.
It's my life, and I love to look at it!