I have no love for the computer right now, which is ironic because here I sit. This week, I permanently deleted (accidentally) the video files from baby Blake’s first three months of life. What struck me was the extreme sense of loss I felt… there’s no way I can go back and recreate those moments. I have photos, but I can’t hear the cries or the buzz of excited chatter that filled the room when he arrived into this world. There are so many things that will now be left to the imagination, my memories…
Everything I love about this life is merely on loan to me. Having children magnifies how quickly things change. They are growing so quickly… sometimes it all feels like a blur. I try to capture the magic with videos and photos, but now I’m painfully aware of the false sense of security that provides.
In a strange way, “the computer malfunction of 2009″ did me a favor. It was a real, raw, snap-to-the-present experience. I’m reminded to open my eyes. Watch. Pay attention. Love fully and feel deeply. Participate in my life– don’t merely snap photos and document occasions, in hopes of catching it later.
Very well said!
While the current technology is an awesome way to record our Precious memories, you actually have a much better medium. The imagination works much more efficiently when stimulated by the written or spoken word. Your gift to write is the best way to preserve the moments you are now living; and they are the best way to help others live them again through the power of an engaged imagination. Pictures and videos just can’t create the same experience. I always told my children the great stories of the Bible. Just watching their eyes and the anticipation (and participation in) what was next are forever ingrained in my memory archives!
I had a feeling I would be reading a blog about this incident. You spoke some hard truths that should reach to the core of many of us. I like what Chuck said, and I agree, your gift to write is the best way to preserve your precious memories through your gift of engaged imagination. I still have some pretty powerful memories of the day you were born, including the words spoken, although at the time, I did not have the luxury of a video camera to document and remind me later. Your precious memories will never be erased from your mind.
I erased video before…if you haven’t gone over it yet with new info…you can still retrieve it. I got all my video back.