Week 2.49: Snapshot

Week 2.49: Snapshot is a photo inspired by one of my several Sarah friends. She once made the brilliant suggestion that I should lighten my actual, physical load in life by photographing sentimental things as a documentation rather than keeping all the sentimental stuff. I am a pack rat of the first order. It was probably her own mini-intervention staged to avoid my appearance on a television show about hoarders. sheesh.

Anyway, I love her idea. I don't do it as often as I should, but I did for this week's photo. Which, incidentally, takes me straight back to the fabulous honeymoon years of 2004 to 2005 in Hawaii. Allow me to guide you through Snapshot.

Going from left to right (as if this were a class photo):
1. Notes I took during church
2. A church bulletin
3. Bible reading calendar bookmarks
4. The Bible I read during those years
5. A note from one of my best girlfriends on the planet, Hobcaw Annie
6. A leaf I picked up on one of my lovely walks in the Kauai Lagoons area
7. Bookmarks from the Borders bookstore where I practically lived during my downtime
*The "Love Passionately" was a gift from my dear Dawne Morning Glory friend

The thing that is so wild about Snapshot is that I can still feel these things passing through my fingers the first time! I can feel the moisture in the air as I parked my vehicle in the Safeway parking lot and made my way to the double doors in the clock tower corner. I can remember Johnny Gordinez's huge smile and feel his hug. I can watch the church bulletin passed into my hand and see the bookmark for a new month on a first Sunday of the month peeking out at the top. I can feel the tradewinds whisper through the jalousie windows while I took notes on Pastor Bob's sermons.

I can remember slipping the paper bookmarks into that Bible at home and marking my places with the beaded marker. I can remember early morning sunrises over the east and sitting on my green couch, reading verses while color crept into the sky. I can remember the pen in my fingers, marking off another day of reading and journaling things that stood out to me. Songs I loved. Quotes. Poems.

I can see myself going downstairs to work and talking to coworkers. People from all over the globe. I can see the sun climb into the sky and dance glitter all over the bay. I can see the sparkles turn to a slant and my free time arriving. I can see my walking shoes and clothes. I can see where I would pin my house key. I can see the trees meeting over my head and the leaves dying against the red dirt below me. I can see that leaf when I snatched it up.

I can watch Annie standing on my terrace wringing sea water out of her hair after surfing, inviting herself into my home. I can watch her standing at my kitchen island chopping things and telling me to get out of her kitchen. I can watch her tearing around the corner from Kuhio highway into the parking lot of our favorite sushi place. I can watch her laugh.

I can envision Dawne pulling into the hotel parking lot before the sunrise with the car packed for a day of sea glass hunting. I can envision her drinking her Frappas and smoking her cigarettes. I can envision her fingers wiggling on the steering wheel and in midair while her brain raced ahead of her. I can envision those same fingers tying countless ribbons over little gifts for people she loves.

All of that in Snapshot. Yes. I remember falling in love with God all over again this morning, thanks to Snapshot. I hope it's a vibrant memory forever.