I lifted the dusty hat box from the shelf. It had been years since I looked inside.
One by one, I pulled letter after letter from my mother. These were sent to me while in nursing school.
The year was 1965. The envelope was stamped by the post office "pray for peace" and it cost 5-cents to mail.
There was nothing earth-shattering in these letters... updates as to what was happening at home, words of encouragement, little things that she knew would make me smile or laugh, and words about how much I was loved.
I remember looking forward to these letters from home.

As I pulled another letter out to read... this photo fell out... a photo I do not recall seeing before, or perhaps I had forgotten. I have very few photos of my parents which makes each one more precious.
In the photo she was writing something and I thought it only appropriate to pair this with a copy of her letter and this favorite quote from Emily Dickinson.
How true that quote is.

Perhaps this is why photography means so much to me.
A link to the past, a memory that might have been forgotten in the everyday hustle and bustle of daily life.
I make a mental note to take the time to take more meaningful photos such as this that I am posting... a photo that tells a story... a photo to pass on to future generations,
and a new project... a photo book with text about my life.

We all have a story to tell. Share that story with those you love before it is too late.