#93: Preserving the Memories (Friday, October 3)

This image was on the side of a NYC tour bus. I saw it as I was leaving work tonight. I couldn't capture the entire bus, because I was using my phone. But I'm sure you get the point. LOL.

I love taking pictures. Most of my friends can attest to being caught in an unflattering pose or two once I have a camera in my hand. LOL. It's partly because I only have about 7 childhood pictures (my older siblings have even less, so I'm not complaining), but there's a more important reason: I like to think that by taking pictures, I'm helping my friends and loved ones preserve a memory of a certain event, and that long after we're gone, the images will be there for generations to come.

This past summer, it didn't feel like I did much; but I recently went through and looked at all the pictures and realized what an amazing summer it had been. I saw the Murakami exhibit; roadtripped to Philly with someone I'd only met the day before (who ended up also being my travel partner to Brazil); met so many new people; saw my first baseball game live; watched a historic US Open match with two African-American male players; reconnected with an old friend; saw Stevie Wonder live; ate an authentic German meal; helped make history at Habitat for Humanity; roadtripped to DC for carnival; danced my Sunday away at Ft. Greene Park; spent my Labor Day Saturday feeding the homeless; relaxed upstate...and those are just the events I have pictures for!

I also had two major milestones this summer that are just as important even though there are no pictures: I conquered my fear of drowning by going white water rafting, and went after a longtime dream of becoming a firefighter.

I lost my camera during my trip to Brazil, and although I was upset for the first day after it happened, I'm over it now. I'll get another one and continue to take pictures and preserve the memories.