A Day In The Life

“For this week’s Friendly Friday Challenge, Sandy asks us to share a photo and tell us the backstory. What makes the photo special? Why is it a favorite? Is there a story behind the picture? Is it an enhanced or modified picture? What did you do to change it and why?”

October 2020. School was in session, with masks, and shields and fear everyday of catching Covid. Endless handwashing, not getting too close to the kids, showering the minute I got home. I decided to take a day off from the madness and my husband and I drove to Sandy Hook, NJ about an hours drive away. The beach, the quiet of October, no one around on what was a gray and chilly day. Whenever I see this photo I am reminded of that feeling of freedom from what was going on in the world, in my daily life. I changed it from color to black and white which made the photo itself more “still”

Running away seems to be a common theme for me and my favorite photos… fast forward to October 2021, I went by myself overnight to the Inn at the beach where we always stay. (read about it HERE.) I remember sending one of the teachers I work with the photo of the Starbucks I was holding as I stood on the balcony outside my room, immediately after I arrived, looking at the ocean feeling total contentment. One of the other photos is of daybreak from the balcony, total quiet as the horizon changed color, and the other I took on my morning run through Asbury Park, I remember sitting watching the sun come up, once again enjoying the stillness of morning. When I see these photos I am always reminded of that sense of calm, in a place I so love.

While walking a trail a mile from my home, I looked up to find myself standing under a tree where a bald eagle had perched. My heart nearly stopped. He didn’t move as I stood beneath him snapping away, marveling at such a fortunate encounter. To see this magnificent bird, up close, every feather, was a more than memorable moment for someone who grew up at a time when bald eagles were extinct.

The original selfie, circa 1980’s. My BFF and I were spending the weekend visiting my grandfather who lived near the beach, and had gone to the beach for the day. Laughing as we always were, we had the genius idea of taking my Polaroid camera and turning it around to face us so we could capture the moment. And there you have it. We thought it was the most hysterical thing to do (who knew that 20 years later selfies would be a “thing.”) The wind blowing our hair, the color totally off and faded, but the moment captured nevertheless. I smile every time I come upon this photo.

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