Beth, this was such a beautiful reflection on how photographs hold not only moments, but entire emotional landscapes and chapters of our lives. I especially loved the idea that images can suddenly reopen memories we thought had faded, carrying us back not just to what happened, but to how it felt to live through those moments. And congratulations to Arielle — there is so much love, pride, and hard-earned joy woven throughout this piece.
I still have about 10 albums of my life with real pictures in them. "Mom, why don't you digitalize them?" Ha! "You do it sweetheart," I told him.
You realize how much work that would be? No, I'm glad to have the actual photos, some of them faded by now. After I'm gone, I hope my kids will save the albums. They represent nearly 80 years of memories. And they are worth saving.
Thanks for a great share and a great reminder, Beth.
Beth it's so special to see these photos of you and your daughter celebrating this amazing milestone! I love that you talk about the layers of love and life that are embedded in these keepsake pictures--all the nights spent helping your daughter with her homework, preparing her for school the next day, going through the ups and downs of both academic life and the social responsibilities that come along with it. It's tremendous heart work. And let me say that it's been a true privilege to be on this journey with you and to witness what an incredible mom you've been--so dedicated to taking care of her and her special talents. Congratulations on a job well done!
I'd be lying if I said it was easy; it's been gruelling, as you know. But like you say, it has been "heart work."
Thank you so much for your belief in her and in me. As you know so very well, it was a rough ride to parenthood, not easy at all. And then when I became a parent, the work was really just beginning.
I thank you so much for being such a true friend and supporting me in my dreams and just being there for me no matter what. That's what great friends do for each other. Arielle thinks the world of you, and I do, too.
Congratulations to you and your daughter! Making this journey together with all of its twists and turns into a joyful accomplishment for you both. I can understand why you are so proud of your daughters, but please remember to be proud of yourself and your own hard won journey.
Susan, thank you. You make such a good point. Oftentimes, we don't give ourselves the credit we deserve. It's been a tough journey for Arielle and me. And you are right: I am proud of myself too!
Wow, what a milestone! Mazel tov to you and Arielle, Beth. High school can feel so challenging--like an unexplainable waystation on the road to adulthood. And for parents, it can be trying in other ways, like, "Yes, you have to get your homework done before you meet your friends at the mall," and other hallmarks of, dare I say it, nagging.
Having been through this (albeit a long time ago now) myself, and with my three kids, and lately, with my STEAMinista protagonist Charley, in the finale of my YA Edge of Yesterday book series, now in final draft manuscript (https://edgeofyesterdaybooks.com), I appreciate what a right-of-passage graduation is for all in the family.
Thank you so much, Robin. Yes, the four years were tough -- for me and Arielle.
I have to tell you, I LOVE the Edge of Yesterday (the one where Charley is going to meet [I think] Leonardo da Vinci. Such a great book. I also enjoy how you call Charley a STEAMinista.
It is so well-crafted, and I've been reading and enjoying it immensely! I will gather up a review in the near future and put it on Amazon.
As a near peer, Arielle might enjoy Find Me in the Time Before (book IV), Beth. And the next book, Struck by Stars (not yet out) takes place with Charley as a high school senior!
Congratulations to Arielle and to you too Beth, for guiding her and supporting her through such an important life stage so well. She's now got strong foundations for her future thanks to you and the confidence that's grown in her.
As for photography - it's such an important way of remembering these stand out life events. I came across a very 'snatched' image I made 27 years ago that I'd forgotten all about. Just seeing that image brought back so many memories and emotions that had been buried - I'll probably write here about at some point...but it was just another example of how powerful a photograph is.
Thank you so much, Lin, for your wonderful congratulations of Arielle and me and for restacking my essay. I so appreciate you.
I love your photographs; it is such an important, beautiful art form and helps people hold onto memories. I agree that photographs are so very powerful. And I always look forward to seeing your photos; they are amazing.
Congratulations to Arielle and to you, dear Beth. What an amazing story the two of you have lived and are living; what precious memories you've created. I have enjoyed the posts where you've shown how you and your daughter share a love for creating art. Photographs are precious memories. Add to that, paintings that you've created and she has created -- well, that's a whole other dimension of memory, rising up from the heart, to capture not only a moment in time, but the feeling tone of that time.
May you have a wonderful weekend celebrating each other. May your hearts be full. You are a wonderful woman, Beth, a bright light among us. Thank you for sharing the graduation photos. I absolutely loved seeing them. Biggest of hugs from your forever friend and fan, ~stephanie XO
Thank you so much for your kind congratulations and wishes. It's been a whirlwind kind of week, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. Yes, art is something that Arielle and I both gravitate toward and enjoy discussing. Of course, she likes to believe she's always right. And turns out, she is! LOL
Yes, the paintings do add a unique dimension to memory. I know, for me, the act of creating art really makes me study the object/scene to be painted in a unique way. You say it beautifully: "...that's a whole other dimension of memory, rising up from the heart, to capture not only a moment in time, but the feeling tone of that time."
That is so wonderful. Congratulations to Arielle, and good wishes for her future. I often look at my high school yearbook and read some of the sentiments my friends wrote in it. I went to Taft High School on the northwest side of Chicago. It was a wonderful school. Arielle's acrylic streetscape is amazing. Decades ago, my first husband and I went to dinner in Chicago's Chinatown where I also purchased my cherished wok that I still cook with often. I haven't been to that area in years.
Thank you for your wonderful congratulations and wishes. Yes, there is something about yearbooks that evoke meaningful memories. I treasure mine, as well.
I'm so glad you are enjoying Arielle's streetscape. She went to Chinatown as part of a class trip and was compelled to take a picture of the area she painted. I went with her awhile ago, when she was too young to fully appreciate it. Now that she has her driver's license (gulp), she and her friends are planning to go there sometime soon.
Congratulations to Arielle and you too! She has so many possible paths and options ahead of her, and I hope she will look back on this moment with fond memories. All my best to her as she explores the giant world that welcomes her.
Thank you so much, Alene, for your kind congratulations! Right now, understandably, she is unaware of all the possibilities and paths that her university and her studies will take her. She will luckily get to explore many possible career directions. I gave her some advice: that she should go for where her passion lies, that although being able to make a living is important, so is holding onto the direction that will make her happy.
Oh what a joyous post! Congratulations to you both! You've reminded me of the day we attended our youngest daughter’s graduation and how those photographs (taken by Lin!) also hold both the moment and everything that led to it.
Arielle’s graduation sounds like a culmination of so much courage, growth and quiet perseverance. And I love how her Chinatown painting became its own kind of keepsake … proof that memory, once held in the heart, never really goes missing. 🙏💖🥳
If the photos of your youngest daughter's graduation were taken by Lin, they had to be wonderful!
Thank you so much for your kind congratulations. It's amazing how memory works, isn't it? Yes, her Chinatown painting is a keepsake that will be hanging in her room. I'm hoping this artwork will evoke so many good memories for the years to come.
Yes, Arielle showed so much grit during high school. She worked really hard.
Beth, this was such a beautiful reflection on how photographs hold not only moments, but entire emotional landscapes and chapters of our lives. I especially loved the idea that images can suddenly reopen memories we thought had faded, carrying us back not just to what happened, but to how it felt to live through those moments. And congratulations to Arielle — there is so much love, pride, and hard-earned joy woven throughout this piece.
I still have about 10 albums of my life with real pictures in them. "Mom, why don't you digitalize them?" Ha! "You do it sweetheart," I told him.
You realize how much work that would be? No, I'm glad to have the actual photos, some of them faded by now. After I'm gone, I hope my kids will save the albums. They represent nearly 80 years of memories. And they are worth saving.
Thanks for a great share and a great reminder, Beth.
Beth it's so special to see these photos of you and your daughter celebrating this amazing milestone! I love that you talk about the layers of love and life that are embedded in these keepsake pictures--all the nights spent helping your daughter with her homework, preparing her for school the next day, going through the ups and downs of both academic life and the social responsibilities that come along with it. It's tremendous heart work. And let me say that it's been a true privilege to be on this journey with you and to witness what an incredible mom you've been--so dedicated to taking care of her and her special talents. Congratulations on a job well done!
Hi Gerry,
I'd be lying if I said it was easy; it's been gruelling, as you know. But like you say, it has been "heart work."
Thank you so much for your belief in her and in me. As you know so very well, it was a rough ride to parenthood, not easy at all. And then when I became a parent, the work was really just beginning.
I thank you so much for being such a true friend and supporting me in my dreams and just being there for me no matter what. That's what great friends do for each other. Arielle thinks the world of you, and I do, too.
Congrats to your daughter.
Thank you so much, Dee!
Congratulations to you and your daughter! Making this journey together with all of its twists and turns into a joyful accomplishment for you both. I can understand why you are so proud of your daughters, but please remember to be proud of yourself and your own hard won journey.
Susan, thank you. You make such a good point. Oftentimes, we don't give ourselves the credit we deserve. It's been a tough journey for Arielle and me. And you are right: I am proud of myself too!
Wow, what a milestone! Mazel tov to you and Arielle, Beth. High school can feel so challenging--like an unexplainable waystation on the road to adulthood. And for parents, it can be trying in other ways, like, "Yes, you have to get your homework done before you meet your friends at the mall," and other hallmarks of, dare I say it, nagging.
Having been through this (albeit a long time ago now) myself, and with my three kids, and lately, with my STEAMinista protagonist Charley, in the finale of my YA Edge of Yesterday book series, now in final draft manuscript (https://edgeofyesterdaybooks.com), I appreciate what a right-of-passage graduation is for all in the family.
Job well done!
Thank you so much, Robin. Yes, the four years were tough -- for me and Arielle.
I have to tell you, I LOVE the Edge of Yesterday (the one where Charley is going to meet [I think] Leonardo da Vinci. Such a great book. I also enjoy how you call Charley a STEAMinista.
It is so well-crafted, and I've been reading and enjoying it immensely! I will gather up a review in the near future and put it on Amazon.
Oh, thank you, Beth!
Can't wait for your review--it helps for book discovery. Besides Amazon, Goodreads reviews are also helpful. I so appreciate you!! 📖😘📖😘📖
Thank you for letting me know! I wish I knew about these books when my daughter was younger. So wonderful.
As a near peer, Arielle might enjoy Find Me in the Time Before (book IV), Beth. And the next book, Struck by Stars (not yet out) takes place with Charley as a high school senior!
You make a really good point, here, about Find Me in the Time Before. I can't wait to get my hands on Struck by Stars also.
Congratulations to Arielle and to you too Beth, for guiding her and supporting her through such an important life stage so well. She's now got strong foundations for her future thanks to you and the confidence that's grown in her.
As for photography - it's such an important way of remembering these stand out life events. I came across a very 'snatched' image I made 27 years ago that I'd forgotten all about. Just seeing that image brought back so many memories and emotions that had been buried - I'll probably write here about at some point...but it was just another example of how powerful a photograph is.
Thank you so much, Lin, for your wonderful congratulations of Arielle and me and for restacking my essay. I so appreciate you.
I love your photographs; it is such an important, beautiful art form and helps people hold onto memories. I agree that photographs are so very powerful. And I always look forward to seeing your photos; they are amazing.
Thank you Beth, you're very kind.🙏🏻😊
Congratulations to Arielle! It's hard to believe she's already a high school graduate!
Thank you so much, Pam! I can't believe it either.
Congratulations to Arielle and to you, dear Beth. What an amazing story the two of you have lived and are living; what precious memories you've created. I have enjoyed the posts where you've shown how you and your daughter share a love for creating art. Photographs are precious memories. Add to that, paintings that you've created and she has created -- well, that's a whole other dimension of memory, rising up from the heart, to capture not only a moment in time, but the feeling tone of that time.
May you have a wonderful weekend celebrating each other. May your hearts be full. You are a wonderful woman, Beth, a bright light among us. Thank you for sharing the graduation photos. I absolutely loved seeing them. Biggest of hugs from your forever friend and fan, ~stephanie XO
Hi Stephanie,
Thank you so much for your kind congratulations and wishes. It's been a whirlwind kind of week, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. Yes, art is something that Arielle and I both gravitate toward and enjoy discussing. Of course, she likes to believe she's always right. And turns out, she is! LOL
Yes, the paintings do add a unique dimension to memory. I know, for me, the act of creating art really makes me study the object/scene to be painted in a unique way. You say it beautifully: "...that's a whole other dimension of memory, rising up from the heart, to capture not only a moment in time, but the feeling tone of that time."
Sending you love and hugs, Beth. ❤
That is so wonderful. Congratulations to Arielle, and good wishes for her future. I often look at my high school yearbook and read some of the sentiments my friends wrote in it. I went to Taft High School on the northwest side of Chicago. It was a wonderful school. Arielle's acrylic streetscape is amazing. Decades ago, my first husband and I went to dinner in Chicago's Chinatown where I also purchased my cherished wok that I still cook with often. I haven't been to that area in years.
Hi Nancy,
Thank you for your wonderful congratulations and wishes. Yes, there is something about yearbooks that evoke meaningful memories. I treasure mine, as well.
I'm so glad you are enjoying Arielle's streetscape. She went to Chinatown as part of a class trip and was compelled to take a picture of the area she painted. I went with her awhile ago, when she was too young to fully appreciate it. Now that she has her driver's license (gulp), she and her friends are planning to go there sometime soon.
I'm not invited. LOL
Congratulations to Arielle and you too! She has so many possible paths and options ahead of her, and I hope she will look back on this moment with fond memories. All my best to her as she explores the giant world that welcomes her.
Thank you so much, Alene, for your kind congratulations! Right now, understandably, she is unaware of all the possibilities and paths that her university and her studies will take her. She will luckily get to explore many possible career directions. I gave her some advice: that she should go for where her passion lies, that although being able to make a living is important, so is holding onto the direction that will make her happy.
Congratulations to your daughter and you too!
My son will be graduating high school in 2 weeks!
Thank you so much, Jane. I appreciate it. 😀
And congratulations to your son and you! It's a huge milestone, and I'm sure you are very proud.
Thanks so much, Beth!
Oh what a joyous post! Congratulations to you both! You've reminded me of the day we attended our youngest daughter’s graduation and how those photographs (taken by Lin!) also hold both the moment and everything that led to it.
Arielle’s graduation sounds like a culmination of so much courage, growth and quiet perseverance. And I love how her Chinatown painting became its own kind of keepsake … proof that memory, once held in the heart, never really goes missing. 🙏💖🥳
Hi Deborah,
If the photos of your youngest daughter's graduation were taken by Lin, they had to be wonderful!
Thank you so much for your kind congratulations. It's amazing how memory works, isn't it? Yes, her Chinatown painting is a keepsake that will be hanging in her room. I'm hoping this artwork will evoke so many good memories for the years to come.
Yes, Arielle showed so much grit during high school. She worked really hard.
Congratulations, Arielle! I know how proud you are, Beth. 🩷🩷
Thank you so much, Rea. Yes, I'm very proud. Arielle is just glad to be done. 🤣