Some picture, huh?
Yesterday a friend who is writing a book about the TV news business in the 60’s and 70’s asked me for some photos from the time we worked together. As I went through old albums and pulled out the few I had, I found this one. I remember the day it was taken – a sunny spring Sunday in Washington in a public garden. Newly out of college, newly employed, newly in possession of a Nikon, I’d gone with a friend to take photos of all things lovely. She took this one of me. (note to all curly haired people – this look was achieved by sleeping with hair wrapped around orange juice cans!)
Almost 40 years later, I am surprised that I look at this with pleasure, not sadness. I expected the familiar "ah I looked so much better then – so much was ahead of me" stuff but found none.
I’m sure something is still there – I got kind of weepy going through the books and seeing family photos from when the boys were little – so much time gone by. But that’s nostalgia for the joy that comes from wonderful children and the memories lucky families build. But this photo – no pangs at all.
Nope. I was a lucky girl. I had more adventures by the time I was 25 than many people get in a lifetime and I’m still having them. So there she is – the weekend me from the beginning of my grown-up life, young and happy in the sunshine.
I love that picture, but I also noticed that you look as excited and curious and ethusiastic and happy and full of hope, life and possibility in the park bench photo as you do in your blog photo. You are an amazing, wonderful woman.