I was looking through my photo archives, and realised that we hardly have any photos taken with the relatives. I have more photos of my failed cooking experiments than those of my children with their grandparents!!
Yeah, I have plenty of pictures of my new dining table…When we were still in the same country, we never bothered taking photos whenever we met up unless it was for special occasions like weddings, birthdays, etc. (come to think of it, relatives far and near do come together during funerals but that hardly seems like the right time say ‘cheese’, eh?). I remember I used to enjoy bringing out my childhood photos and seeing cousins, uncles and aunties in a different era. Relatives whom we hardly see anymore because everyone is now scattered all over the country. Uncles and aunties whom we will never see anymore because they have moved on. In this age of digital photography where photo opportunities are practically limitless, we should be taking pictures whenever we meet up with family. Especially now when the kids don’t get to see members of our extended family whenever we like.
I was making some calls back home a few days ago, catching up with our parents and my godparents. It tugged on my heartstrings to realise that age was catching up with everyone as they half-complained that they are not spring chickens anymore and that travelling can be hazardous as they may fall and injure themselves seriously. Not long ago they were the ones who was taking care of us, making sure we were well-fed and out of harm’s way. It’s distressing that they are in their twilight years and we may not have that much more time with them anymore. I get very fearful whenever I get a phonecall from home, especially when it comes in an odd hour. I worry that it may be bringing bad news and I fear that I cannot make it home in time. Sigh…
There is so much I want to do when I get home. Besides eating. Actually the best thing would be to eat with the family, don’t you think? 3-5 meals a day for an entire month – that gives at least 150 chances to sit down together. I’m sure that is time enough to snap photos with entire clan, yes?
*cheers up*
12 comments
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23 March 2008 at 2:12 pm
Jemima
Someone once said: “A photograph is like the recipe – a memory the finished dish.”
Maybe that’s why you have so many photos of your failed cooking experiments. :p *just kidding*
Btw, I love your floral arrangement.
23 March 2008 at 4:28 pm
wmw
Eversince I started blogging, I take photos of almost everything and everyone! It’s definitely a way to keep memories
)
23 March 2008 at 4:32 pm
L B
Yes, good idea… Makan, makan, makan!!!
23 March 2008 at 5:08 pm
mistipurple
makaning together is wonderful. wish you lots of precious times with loved ones. time is precious.
23 March 2008 at 5:54 pm
angeles
mmm.. new DSLR kambing?? heh heh!
24 March 2008 at 4:46 am
adrian
The elders wan their photos taken or not? If my family, my mom will ask “Sifut han ar?” (Ass itchy ah)
24 March 2008 at 6:20 am
Lyrical Lemongrass
My FIL is obsessed about taking family photographs. It doesn’t matter whether one has eaten or not, but the group photo on Christmas, Easter, birthdays and other special occasions MUST be taken. Interestingly enough, yesterday he complained that the last family photo was taken on their wedding anniversary last year. I disagreed saying that it was taken on Christmas Day just 3 months ago…not so long ago mah. He had the last say when he said that all my pictures are softcopies so they don’t count! (He constantly nags me for not printing the photos!) So I guess with the older generation, it is important to not just take them photos, but to also print them.
But yeah…that first step of capturing memories is essential.
24 March 2008 at 11:32 am
kat
jem:
You see, failed cooking experiments do not run around ignoring all your calls to sit still and smile! They will sit quietly and patiently until you have taken every single possible angle..
The assorted floral arrangement was not done by me. I received a bouquet for being a *gasp* speaker at a function. No biggie as I was the only Chinese around to give a talk on CNY celebrations during a CNY dinner!
All I did with the flowers was trim the ends and plonked them into a vase!
wmw:
Actually I prefer to take candid shots, whether of people, things or places. I’m not too keen on all those posed (and stiff) pixes but I guess those are quite good when you want to tell your kids which is uncle #2 and cousin twice-removed..
lb:
*makan-ing, makan-ing*
misti:
Don’t I know it.
*counting the days..*
angeles:
Aiyo.. I small compact P&S oso lazy to take out sometimes, you want me to lug around that bigass bazooka??
All I need is a tiny camera that is big on functions, especially image stabiliser!
adrian:
No-wor, nowadays my family all very obliging to take photos wan wor. It’s the children who sifut han kenot sit still to take picture!!
LL:
Exactly! Each time I call home, someone is bound to ask, ‘When are you sending photos home?’!!
To think, last time when we still used analog cameras (is that what you call cameras that uses film??), we just hentam, hope the pixes turn out okay, send them for washing and miraculously, most of them do turn out alright! None of those blurred shots I get with the digicam! Now we have the option of selecting the best of the best, it takes me even longer to choose the pixes I want to print!!
25 March 2008 at 2:03 am
Jamie
I totally know where u are coming from kat…I myself, hate getting phone calls from home whenever I am away…its not that i don’t miss my family or anything but the dread is always there…sheeesh!
Thats one of the reason why I always take lots and lots of photos….nothing beats visual rememberance
25 March 2008 at 7:41 am
UnkaLeong
One dreads receiving phone calls late at night now that one is no longer on call. One totally understands how massimo feels…Havign said that one does take certain things for granted..
Must call mom tonight;)
Makan session = great time for catching everyone at their most natural pose
25 March 2008 at 8:21 am
laundryamah
when r u coming back next?? we take photo together can??
25 March 2008 at 8:41 am
kat
jamie:
Yup! And after taking all those pictures, the next step is to print the nice ones out! I have hardly any photos of my son, unlike my dotter because all of his are soft copies!!
dutti:
You move very far away from mum already meh?
Ya, I still someone’s abs so naturally shot..
amah:
Hah! All our photos taken at the last few meets oso never get to see!! But not to worry, can take some more come June..