October 29, 2022: My daughter's love asked her to marry him and through laughter and tears she said, "Fuck, yes!" After that, there was one more surprise for my girl, a family dinner at Il Florista, where they set us up in our own dining room adorned with beautiful floral arrangements. Our girl burst into tears when she walked in and saw us all gathered there, waiting to celebrate her good news. Even her sister-cousin from Dallas and her husband were there, even though Leisa had been gaslighting her all day, texting as if she was doing the usual back in Texas, when in fact she was in our apartment in New York, waiting to surprise her at dinner. Afterward, as we were getting ready to leave, I made my kids and their loves pose for this prom picture, a moment in time when each of them was standing on the threshold of a brand new life stage, my son a newlywed, my daughter newly engaged, and my niece, newly expecting. That's why I choose this image as my photo of the year. It is so filled with meaning and promise and love. Tell me, what highlight moment would you choose from your year just past, whether a photo exists of it or not?
The light in the eyes of 12-year-old Sabir, a refugee from South Sudan, when he began to play one of my autoharps a few days ago. The alternatively solemn and delighted expression on his young face. Music is a universal language that transcends language barriers. I know that the sounds he drew from the autoharp expressed what might be inexpressible in either Arabic or English. Those moments when I sensed his joy at the sounds he could make with the autoharp will stay with me through 2023 and beyond.
ReplyDeleteDearest am, your description of this gives me the most beautiful chills. Imagining you and Sabir in that moment with carry me, too.
DeleteWonderful to see a larger version of your photo of the year!
ReplyDeleteYes! I keep looking into that picture and seeing my mother's dream for these children.
DeleteThat is such a beautiful photo. It captures so much love and joy. I don't think I have anything that comes close to such love. You know me, I just run outside to photograph atmospheric optics. How about a rainbow of love, a heart in the clouds, a wave breaking on the shoreline with the roaring sound of the sea.
ReplyDeleteRobin, such exquisite moments in nature, and I especially recall the heart in the clouds. Thank you for sharing these memories.
DeleteThat's a hard one to answer but I might have to say that instead of a photo, I would pick a tiny little video of being on the dock over the Sebastian River at sunset with my love and seeing dolphins play.
ReplyDeleteMary, that was indeed a highlight moment, and how wise that you knew it right in the midst of living it. I love your love.
DeleteMy highlight, maybe meeting my brother and sister in law for the first time.
ReplyDeletePixie, did you write about this? How did I miss this? That's amazing.
DeleteWhat a beautiful photo and wonderful description! I love that you have so much to look forward to -- and each of their young and radiant faces gives us all pause, doesn't it? I'm not sure what I'd call a photo of the year in my parts -- maybe my mother's grave? It's been such a weird and lonely year that has kept me rather bewildered even as the new one begins.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth, I'm not sure I ever felt lonelier than when my mother died. If we have been blessed with good parents, their passing on is one of life's most momentous passages, at least that's how it felt for me. In this way 2022 was a watershed for you, and your dear father, too. Hugs, my dear friend.
DeleteHappy New Year! Wishing you peace and joy in 2023!
ReplyDeleteYour family is shining with love in this picture!
Ellen, thank you for being around the hearth here! Happy 2023 to you and your loves!
DeleteDefinitely a terrific image, filled with the hope and promise of the future. :)
ReplyDeleteSteve, knowing these young 'uns as I do, this picture captures so much. May all the promise it contains be fulfilled. Thank you for being here, friend.
DeleteSuch a beautiful photo full of love and joy. And I think that was my exact comment when you first posted it. Hard to pick one photo or moment for the entire year. Perhaps when I finally finished the Coral Reef box after working on it for 4 months and it was better than I imagined.
ReplyDeleteellen, your coral reef box was a thing of great beauty and imagination, and I felt so privileged to be able to follow along in your artistic process as worked on it. Here's to more art and beauty of all kinds in the new year!
DeleteThey are beautiful young people and I look forward to following their, and your, adventures in future. My photo of the year is really only in my head - my daughter, off the plane and home from Pakistan, coming in the front door, arms wide, blue eyes dancing.
ReplyDeleteMary, no picture needed, your description evoked everything, and how perfect a moment that was. It fills my maternal heart.
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