Tuesday, August 25, 2015

A Photograph Deleted. Memories not Lost.





I am not tech savvy. I had a big old honking phone that I proudly wore on my belt, and it did not allow me to text or take photos. I thought I was so cool with my extra large phone until one day the mishap. “Ker plunk!” The bag of rice could not save my long-time companion.

Long story short, I ended up with an iPhone 5. I still do not understand the features on the iPhone. I love taking photos and making videos. The store representative at the T-Mobile said the other day that many on the settings were not working, and that he strongly recommended that I delete a number of photos and videos or send them to the cloud.

I have deleted a number of them because I do not understand: “What is the cloud?” I could not bear to delete the photo of me sitting in the Sunroom on the 13th floor in The Terraces alone due to a resident by the name of Ann. She would sit in one chair as I sat in the other. We would sip our coffee and watch the traffic. Once in a while a word would be shared. This was a daily occurrence during my morning break for more than 5-years.
Ann’s daughter wrote after her passing, which was on the morning of my birthday this year, “Dear Julie, From Mom’s first days at The Terraces to the end, you were such a wonderful support but even more – friend. We all knew how special that was for Mom from your Indiana connection to understand each other so well in your silent conversations on 13…”

Ann taught me through the silence about the gifts of resiliency, perseverance, friendship and living life with purpose.

I have written a few words. I now can delete the photograph, not the memory.




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