The Way Things Have To Be

He is standing by the pie counter, talking on the phone.  Nick’s at the bar doing shots before the show.  I am waiting—wondering what the hell I’m doing here, partying with twenty-somethings in Manhattan when in a few days I’ll be turning forty.  

“A girl?” I ask him, and he nods, sheepish, rolling his eyes.  “Do you like her?” I ask later, when he hangs up because he can’t bear me photographing him like this.   

“We used to be together a long time ago,” he says, confessional.  “So I guess I’ll always be in love with her.”  
I show him this picture, and he asks for a do over.  I take a handful more staged shots of him, talking on the phone and flexing his biceps.  We laugh, collect Nick from the bar and go to the show.

It’s only when I’m home that I see the pieces of a heart in his reflection and remember how he laughed to hear her voice, how he folded his body in tight when they said good-bye, remembering the way things are, the way things have to be.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

What photo do you want to share today?  What tiny truth do you see when you look through your lens?

Comments

[camerashymomma]

gosh your words. they always ring true for me. not even knowing the backstory. they remind me of the story that plays for me in my own life.

this is a wonderful photo. i love how his thumb you can see is pressed against the window.

my truth? http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerashymomma/2903763370/

[Kirsten]

Beautiful post...my truth? I'm waiting for my wings...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/somethingcheeky/2902904765/

[Jody]

...my truth is that you cannot stop time. I see this picture of my boys and I'm there. In the moment. Like it was yesterday. I can't believe they're grown now...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jodyangel/2865516278/

[Elizabeth]

Truth for me today...the lasting impact of our actions.



http://www.giftsofthejourney.com/Elizabeth_Harper-Gifts_of_the_Journey/Blog/Entries/2008/8/6_Ghosts.html

[Marcie]

A little puppy love on a rainy day:
http://bravo.unisonplatform.com/~marciesc/index.php?showimage=535

[Vanessa]

the truth is sometimes i need to be reminded to let go, and also to open up and let in. him? he always knows.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanessa_r/2902686914/

[Lindy]

The truth is that I hope she follows her heart. The truth is I hope she finds passion in life. The truth is that as corny as it sounds I only found my passion after I became her mummy.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/designcrane/2898113967/

[Jamie]

Thank you Jen for a wonderful post. The truth for me today is my 10-year old daughter who walks with weight on her shoulders; the truth that she doesn't always want or need to tell me what weighs on her.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrs-eaves/2892185355/

[shelli]

What beautiful words you write.

My truth is that small daily rituals are all I have right now.

http://web.mac.com/pabis/Mama_of_Letters/Blog/Entries/2008/10/1_Angel_Trumpet_2.html

[ELK]

love the photo today Jen!

my truth ...I see hope and beauty with a little fear as a background.

http://www.redorgray.com/

[yellow pooky]

Love the photo!

he always makes silly faces for the camera, but here the sun was in his eyes and he was disarmed
http://www.flickr.com/photos/yellowpooky/2900283032/

[benzismama]

The truth is that he's just as sensitive as I am.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/benzismama/2839342277/in/set-72157605713738606/

[Cartwheels At Midnight/Paige]

One night last month, just before we sent our autistic 13 year old son to live in a residential treatment facility, I spontaneously took out my camera and started to snap away while he was in the bathtub. I was trying to preserve some tiny moments for my husband and I to recall while he was gone during the week. It was only after I uploaded the set, that I noticed how he was engaged and looking directly into the camera, something we rarely get to see. I keep coming back to this photo. It reminds me that even though Alex lives in a world we can't understand, that he does have moments of absolute connection with us. He's home now. The school couldn't provide the intensive intervention that we had hoped for and looking at this photo, I know that we made the right choice.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cartwheelsatmidnight/2843070944/

[Sandi]

The truth is...I feel out of place. and scared sometimes.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sandis_art/2904746852/

p.s. this is my first comment. :) I have been reading and viewing and loving for a while now..but just today decided to join in. thanks for such a great blog.

[A Yummy Life/Jodi]

My truth... seeing my sons care about each other.

http://flickr.com/photos/ayummylife/2894172174/

[Betz]

I had to go for the Kleenex after reading this. Beautiful entry, beautiful photo.

My truth? I miss him. In less then 2 hrs. we argued, he spread his wings and he was gone. He's 17 (turns 18 in November) and he's got a mind of his own. The only comfort in all of it, is that he at least went to live with his Dad instead of disappearing. He hasn't spoken to me since. I wasn't ready for the empty nest... but he just took a leap. Hopefully one day he'll find his way home.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2401/2529197290_2d395f8f8e.jpg

[claudia]

the truth of the matter is they do grow up faster than I thought :(
http://gnubee.wordpress.com/2008/10/01/wordfull-wednesday-letting-go-of-little-boy-toys/

[ann]

My truth for today is that there is always faith, hope, and love.

http://flickr.com/photos/sojochick/2741472787/in/set-72157606598849389/

[spread your wings]

my truth... my little girl is spreading her wings

http://flickr.com/photos/shutterxdown/2404900418/in/set-72157604951468073/

[lora]

the truth is: I'd never seen him smile so wide as he did the day he died.

I love you, Nemo.
I love you and i miss you so much.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28987938@N00/2904282461/in/set-72157607640344313/

[Farrah Braniff]

My truth today is reflected in my work, life just keeps going and going...starting and ending and starting over again.

http://farrahblog.squarespace.com/my-photo-life/2008/10/1/alexander.html

[ann]

My truth is .........so little summer, and its autumn already.

[Kate Baumert]

http://happyinthehamptons.blogspot.com/2008/09/i-love-living-in-so-called-hippie-town.html

[Robin]

My truth is hidden under my dress:

http://www.accidentalbeauty.net/index.php?showimage=342

[Cheryl Doran-Girard]

The truth is these days happen far more often than I acknowledge--

http://cheryldoran-girard.typepad.com/goat_hill_journal/2006/07/best_day_of_my_.html

Thanks for the reminder.

[Kacey]

Great post. Sometimes I see such truth when I look over photos I've taken. Like this series of lego pieces scattered around my house. Still. And my boys are all college age. Why haven't I put them away? Why do I still find legos, dinosaurs, matchbox cars and the like in the strangest places...and why do I usually just leave them there when I find them to bring a smile to my face when I stumble upon them again?

http://www.wineonthekeyboard.com/2008/09/22/long-forgotten-toys/

[Kathleen O.]

The truth...even though he wasn't born to me, he's mine, heart and soul.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ko2008/2579277412/in/set-72157605477870466/

[tonya]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tonyadoughty/443759276/

Love this image of my oldest at the Space Needle. Something very telling as she is often torn between doing and watching.

[Julie Alvarez]

Love the picture here.
The truth?... this kiddo is just like her mama, and she doesn't like to pass some of her manias to her (ugh...):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/2904885333/
Another truth I saw today? I have to have a vice. I quit smoking already, what else do you want from me?!:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/2904863737/in/photostream/

[psumommy]

Beautiful post, Jen. And fabulous capture.

My truth today...as much as I'm in love with my new daughter, my heart is breaking a little that my little boy is no longer the baby of the family.

http://nittanymommy.blogspot.com/2008/10/shutter-sisters-truth.html

[Blazey]

The truth is autumn is coming

http://flickr.com/photos/blazeyphotography/2891181470/in/photostream/

[buttercupyaya]

My truth...oh boy...
that I'm scared of many things, but mostly of messing them up...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/buttercupyaya/2847181468/in/set-72157607223096459/

thank you for this post.