memories

Over the past few months, we have known that our dear friends would soon be moving out of state. Simultaneously feeling excited for them on their new adventure and feeling the great loss their absence will create in our lives, I have found the need to document as much of our time together as possible.

What I will share below, are photos of the girls’ last morning together while working on a film project.

They began with a dance scene,

and took a moment to make sure that they got the shot before heading outside.

There was a lot of planning,

filming, laughing,

and viewing their progress.

I enjoyed watching the director’s vision take shape

as she used her own ideas blended together with those of her friends.

What delighted me most was simply watching the girls being together

and creating a fun, expressive way to say their goodbyes.

Although you are moving far away, we will always be with you in your hearts. We wish you the best of luck on your new adventure and look forward to sharing more stories, continuing our friendship, and to creating more memories (and to seeing the completed movie!).

I have an old metal tin, which I’ve used since childhood to hold many of my keepsakes: my lost teeth, photos of puppies, gumball machine rings, Girl Scout badges, and a ballerina necklace. This old tin also holds something special from my grandpa, an old square dancing belt buckle.

It is amazing how many memories can be evoked from the discovery of just one object.

Finding this belt buckle brought back more than just a memory of how much my grandma and grandpa enjoyed square dancing together. I was reminded how I loved to go and visit them at their house in San Francisco, how excited I was when they let my brothers and I “paint” their garage with paint cans filled with water, and how much fun we had playing Yahtzee at their dining room table. I remember the sleepovers, hunting for Easter Eggs, taking the bus to go shopping, and even the sound of their voices cheering for the San Francisco Giants as we listened to the game on the radio.

Most importantly, I remember the love I felt from them, my love for them (then and now), and their kindness toward each other, and to all of us.

Now, as a parent, it warms my heart to watch the bond between our children and their grandparents grow. They may not understand how fortunate they are to have these relationships now, but, when they are older, I hope that they look back at this time in their lives with fondness, just as I am doing now.

In these moments, I miss my grandparents, immensely. I am grateful that I have so many wonderful memories of my time with them.

Thank you, grandma and grandpa!

Tag: memories

Saying Goodbye