a perfect match

I have my older sister Elaine to thank for scanning these photos of our parents. Possibly forgotten in a musty album or buried in a shoebox, they might have gone unnoticed if she hadn’t made that effort.

We lost our lovely mother in 2009, and our father six years before that.

In a way, we’re now ‘adult orphans’—the term used to describe those who have lost both parents. It’s a state that’s impossible to fully understand until you’re there. If you’re not part of this club, consider yourself fortunate. Treasure your parents, for once they are gone, all that remains are memories.

Which brings me back to these photographs. My mother loved being photographed, and my father loved taking photos—a perfect match.

I am, without a doubt, my parents’ child. I quietly observe my surroundings and find pleasure in documenting fleeting moments. I have countless self-portraits in mirrors, reflections, and shadows, and when it comes to having my own picture taken, I’m like most people—awkward and bashful, yet delighted by a good photograph of myself.

Mother’s Day is just a week and a half away. Take a moment to write her a note, and let her know you’re thinking of her. I just did, and for a brief moment, we were together again.