Ever since I started my blog, my camera has been an umbilicus attached to me at all times. If the big camera isn’t easily accessible I always have my handy dandy camera phone.
Except on Monday.
Monday was one of those days where you just want to throw hands up in the air and say “MERCY” at the top of your lungs. Beginning at 8 a.m. my day went to shit…I had planned to leave smidge early to make an appointment (not possible), had a tour cancel (totally predictable on a Monday) and B2 was MIA hanging with guy pals.
So, after all that I picked up the kids and decided to head downtown to release our Ya Yas. (FYI: Ya Yas are those things that are deep down inside you that make it impossible to relax, so at our house we run around and yell YA YA to get them out).
For those of you unfamiliar with IC, our downtown is made up of little shops and campus buildings, but also what we refer to as the Ped Mall. It’s outside and there adorable vintage clothing shops like REVIVAL (my total favorite!) and a super gargantuan playground, and a fountain that doubles as a shower for the homeless and a splash pad for the kiddos.
E’s head explodes every time we go there and Monday was no exception. He stripped of his shirt, threw his sandals in the buggy and off he ran. He splashed and jumped in puddles and made a couple of friends.
By this time the little guy was itching to escape the confines of the buggy, but as we all know G refuses to walk so I was little nervous to let him crawl on the pavement. But his insistent pleas prevailed and I let him loose.
And he was ecstatic! He crawled in circles through the water, sat and splashed in puddles and followed big brother EVERYWHERE!
It was G’s first time splashing at the fountain. “Oh, I need a photo of this” I thought. And then I reached for my phone and realized it was near death and the camera wouldn’t work.
It was so a Monday (insert loud growl and fist punching the air)…in essence I was caught with my pants down, unprepared to capture this “moment in time”. Ticked? You betcha…
But…it got me thinking (scary thought I know), but I realized just how much I miss when I’m looking through the lens. Yeah, it’s great to capture every moment for posterity, but there’s something to be said for actually being present in the moment; for participating instead of observing.
And you know what that’s just what I did! I ran through the fountain with them…got my feet wet, and laughed and played. I yelled YA YA!
And even without a single photo, I know I’ll always remember it.
>You're so right! I intentionally don't bring my camera a lot of places because I'll get caught up capturing the moment instead of participating in it! You go girl!
>Reading this gave me goose pimples, so true, no photo needed for this post at all – lovely xxx
>So true! And such a beautiful moment to capture with words!
>My in-laws always tell the grandkids to run around and get their ya-ya's out — never heard anyone else use the term before!
I know what you mean about missing details because we can be so obsessed with capturing them on film. It gives me panic attacks sometimes, but I'll make myself leave my cameras at home just so I can be fully present in the moment. And of course, I never regret it, not truly.
Love this bigger picture moment!
>Sounds like a GOOD Monday to me. 😉
Alita
>Perfect — absolutely perfect. There's no way you can get wet with those crazy kiddos if your camera is on your neck, and sometimes…
mondays just beg to be splashy 🙂
So glad you linked up today and shared this with us! This was a wonderful moment to have captured in your memory!
>I LOVE This!
I just spent the afternoon with old friends and I was kicking myself that we didn't get a picture of all the kids together. But your right, who needs that we have the memories of an awesome afternoon! So frequently I'm worried about preserving the moment instead of living the moment.
Thank you for linking up!
>I love that you yell YA YA. I totally know what you mean about those things inside that prevent you from relaxing. Hmm…mayhaps I need to get my Ya Yas out!
>I feel this deeply. Since my camera broke a month ago, I've been much more invested in doing than watching, in being part of the memories instead of observing them. It's a wonderful thing.