”Have you ever tried to sum up your blogging year
in a photo?” says my dear friend Gallivanta, at silkannthreades.
If I could find one picture, one picture only, that would be a symbol of my 2017?
I know what, and who, has been on my mind every day this year. We walk together every day and we talk every day. But many things she no longer remembers. When I talk about the old days, her childhood and when her grandchildren were small – she smiles. Glimpses. For a short moment there is that old shine in her eyes. My Mother.
She is in my thoughts every hour of the day.
To sum up my blogging year is more difficult. Travel, colorful places, family, good friends, nature, animals…and photography. The inner journey. Despite all my travels and meetings with lovely people and lovely places – a day alone with my thoughts has always been my best day.
When I think back, there are so many wonderful people who left us this year, both famous legends and close friends. The frailty of life. In so many countries and places on Earth, things have changed for the worse. Our planet, our world, is suffering.
True, there has been much light, but maybe more of darkness in the world this year, 2017. Still, I always search for the Magic…in everything. I try to see the beauty in every grain of sand, and I hope I can convey at least some of it to you as well. I need this magic – to look away from the darkness, to survive. I guess there might be more people than me who feel the same.
So. The header photo is my choice, dear Amanda.
Leya 
Looking for Magic…words to live by.
♥
The header photo is so reflective of your life, Ann Christine ~ I am sure your ability to capture those precious moments of light and clarity is fostered by the time you spend alone with your thoughts, absorbing the world around you. Your mother’s photo is beautiful, too. I am glad she has good companions for her journey into the unknown, even if she doesn’t always appreciate them! Kia kaha and aroha nui for the year ahead..
I am glad you think I somehow managed to find that single photo. And of course you were right about meeting challenges…It is the same with things I try to find in my home – things I know I have somewhere, but do not really remember where. I can not let it go, I search until I find.
You put it so well about my dear mother – ”her journey into the unknown”. I hope we are her good companions – but somehow, and somewhere in my life, I have understood and accepted that we can only do our best. Things might go wrong even if the intention was good. Things might have been done in better ways. One thing I know, I always do my best from my heart, and have to rely on that.
It’s the same for parent and child, we have to rely on doing the best we can from our heart. Sometimes it’s not an easy journey but there are always priceless, special moments to compensate for the hard times.
There is. Special moments. Mother often says, with her special smile, that it’ s both good and bad not to remember things.
🙂 🙂 🙂
Both images are inspiring to me, Ann-Christine. The fragile sunlit fronds and your dear mother represent much of what you are expressing. I am sorry for your struggles with your Mom and send warm wishes for a happy new year.
Thank you, Jane. It feels good with warm wishes. I wish you too a beautiful new year. Thank you for 2017 – may this 2018 be a better year for us all.
You have captured a beautiful portrait of your Mother, one to treasure. It must’ve been so hard to pick one photo as you have so many inspiring images that you have posted through the year, but this one is magical
It was difficult – yes. I guess that is a difficult task for anyone with many photos to choose from. I had to write down my thoughts about what I want with my photography…and then try to find the right one. This exercise might be good for all of us who take photos and use them for blogging. I am glad you found the magic in it!
That is a good idea
Lovely, thoughtful post, Ann Christine. I’m sad about your mum, life can be cruel
Thank you, Sue. Life is cruel and unfair, but she still belongs to the lucky ones, I think. She has never been seriously ill and is no going on 83.
Always good to look at the blessings….
It is. We have to try, don’t we.
Indeed….
It’s a very magical photo, indeed! I don’t know where I’d start and I’m impressed with your choice. It does seem to reflect you, Ann Christine. 🙂 🙂 And I’m sorry about your Mum. It’s hard to watch.
Thank you, Jo. And, I had to write down my thoughts first, and then find a matching photo. Not easy, but I do believe this exercise to be useful for everyone! Try it!
Yes i am with you there. We need to find the magic to keep the darkness at bay – it is such a lovely thought. Thank you for sharing.
A constant struggle it is, this life. and so different – but in some ways the same – for all of us. I have met so many people who have ”nothing”, but still have Magic and smiles. Something important is missing in the western world.
No, I’m not going to give you any good advice about your mother. It’s so disheartening with people who think you haven’t done all you can and that they have a solution to something that just isn’t there to be solved but to be borne and in some way handled.
All I can do is tell you I’ve seen death, and with a bit of luck, I was given the gift of seeing that besides suffering and sheer pain, there can also be joy and delight in the vicinity of all that darkness.
I’ll let that suffice for now, hoping that joy and delight will find its way to you in spite of all this new year.
Ellington
Thank you for your strong comment. I have lost so many friends and relatives this year, and one of them in Alzheimers, so I know something about it…but I guess they are all different. Just like the people who get them. May you have a great new year – at least better than 2017.
Now the new year is here. Let’s have a try at it!
Ellington
😊Let’s
no wonder your mother takes up so much of your thoughts – shows too in that candid shot so well captured. Your flowers contain enough magic to spell sunshine 🙂
Thank you, Laura. It has been a tough year for my mother – and for my father and me. I try to activate her and do positive things, but there is no cure for Alzheimers. I am glad you found some Magic in the meadow of wild orchids.
sorry to hear this Leya – there is no cure and few words of any consolation
♥