vivid
We went to the Farmer’s Market yesterday. This is nothing new. It’s every Saturday and conveniently on our way to Starbucks (not that we go to Starbucks every Saturday or anything). We don’t go every Saturday. Only when the nap schedule conveniently lines up with the chore schedule and we don’t have anything else going on. It’s a nice little outing and a fun way to meet and greet all our neighbors and their dogs. I love our little town.
This Saturday I had just read Dooce’s Month forty-four Newsletter and I was particularly struck with the one line where she writes, “It is a thrilling, exhausting ride with the most vibrant human being I’ve ever known, and my memories of this time are so colorful, so vivid and full of texture. My only sadness is that your memories of this time will not be as clear…”. It’s not like I want to link Dooce or send her anymore traffic. But she is famous for a good reason. She can write a fine sentence.
That sentence is what I’ve been trying to articulate in my mind for months. Life with Baby Bug is SO vivid. Sometimes little too vivid. And it just makes me sad that these memories that we are making right now are never going to be as vivid as they are now. Especially not for Baby Bug. I want to be able to play them back over and over on days when we are not so happy and full of color but I know we can’t do that. So we just have to treasure them now even if we are blinded by them. Whatever. What Dooce said. I can’t say it like she did. But you know what I mean…
While we were at the Farmer’s Market, I was particularly aware how colorful and pretty everything was. I clicked away with my new doltish mini-van camera and tried to capture some of it. Then later, since I was in photoshop anyway adding my new watermark (that I’m NOT so in love with), I tweaked the color and burnt in the edges to make my boring digital photos seem more like how I remembered them. I don’t know if this is fair, tweaking reality to match the picture in your mind… but maybe it will help me remember just how vivid everything once was.
I don’t want to forget. I never want to forget.
Here’s a little something for the grandmas.
18 Comments
Michelle
There is a Farmer’s Market too in my home town, and there are a million Saturday’s that I let pass us by, with out stopping in. I should take the girls…I was thinking of a song, SAJ, that reminds me of my girls and I thought I would share it with you. It helps me remember more vividly when they were so little…it’s by Seals and Croft, and it’s called “Diamond Girl”. One of the lines says, “Diamond girl, roamin’ wild, such an earthly radiant child.” Another one that I just thought of today, “Love Plus One” by Haircut One Hundred – (In mine and Tim’s case, it was love plus two – teehee).
BTW, I love your watermark…tcfw (too cool for words) :o)
beck
What’s the matter with your watermark? I think it’s just fine!
Betsy
You have this amazing site that is documenting things as they happen . . . and even if Baby Bug doesn’t remember things the way you do, she’ll be able to go back and read what you wrote and feel what you felt and see what you saw. Its so much more than just a baby book because its more like a living thing. Something you can easily “water” with your daily thoughts and observations.
SmocknMama
This is great and Dooce said it just right. And it only gets better.
comfortablycrazy
I like the watermark, it’s you. Simple but Fun.
Anonymous
Each Sunday I remember the Farmers’ Market at 2:15. Too bad they close at 2.
And I love the water mark, simple and stylish. I had to really look for one of them. They don’t distract from the picture at all. A great solution.
bethany actually
The watermark is simple and not that noticeable, but it should do the job. I think it’s cool, much nicer than some watermarks I’ve seen.
You are right, Dooce can certainly craft a fine sentence, but she isn’t the only one who can do that! This:
“I want to be able to play [these memories] back over and over on days when we are not so happy and full of color but I know we can’t do that. So we just have to treasure them now even if we are blinded by them.”
You expressed that so perfectly, I didn’t even know I felt exactly that way till I read those lines. :-)
bluejaye
That anonymous is really me. The *%@# aol wouldn’t let us in all week-end. Now I have to reset everything.
You do turn a good phrase. I don’t read a lot of posters because “they don’t write good”. (said with a NY accent) You know what I mean.
Oh, yah… and we are the only Ponnay wives.
Kathryn
For what its worth, I think your new “mini van” cam takes awesome pictures… just as good as the superspy cam…
Sarah
I also worry Lucy and Tommy will not remember these days I hope to recall so vividly. I believe that even if they don’t remember the specifics of our “everydays,” we, as their parents, are banking these times in their hearts and they are the foundation that creates the grown up people they will become. Now that’s a run-on sentence for you! Dooce, I am not.
At least, that’s what helps me feel better when I think about that. :)
amy
so strange- just having this chat last night…bittersweet…
hue
Your watermark is fantastic. And you’re doing the right thing by adding it.
Reading your and Dooce’s post helps me have something to look forward to besides all the screaming and sleepless nights.
Leah
You’re leaving a great record of Baby Bug’s first years. Please back up this blog (and your photo and video archives!) regularly, because this would be a huge loss if the files got lost.
Texas T-bone
The vivid pictures will bring back a flood of memories every time you look at them. Of course, with all of our digital cameras, there are so many photos that it’s hard to look at all of them.
aimee/greeblemonkey
The watermark looks good! But makes me sad that you have to go through that PITA.
And that’s the thing I love most about all the mommy blogs… the memories. :)
BeachMama
One of the things that bugs me the most about the early years in my kids lives, is that they won’t remember as much as I do. We spend so much time trying to please them and teach them all these wonderful thing and take them places that are so enjoyable. In the end al that they will remember are looking at the photographs. Thank goodness I take a lot of pictures.
You photos are fantastic, even with the minivan of cameras.
Tzitos
I have this crocs too… They are really comfortable!
Sheryl
I think the watermark looks good, but if I can put in my two cents, I think if you really want to deter thieves, you’re going to have to make it more inconvenient for them. If it’s in the corner, they can easily crop it, and because it’s really small, they can also use the clone tool, and edit it out. I think istock has a really great watermark, because it’s not too obtrusive, but it would be hard to edit out. Just sayin’.