Holding On

They met when they were just finishing college, when she and I still shared the garage apartment attached to her mother's house.  I left first and she soon followed, all of us landing in a run-down garden apartment in an old part of town where trees dropped blooms on our cars at night and the landlord slept on a couch in the makeshift office on the ground floor.

They were jazz musicians fated to live on the side of the building where the people across the alley played Michael Jackson, Celine Dion and MeatLoaf.  I lived on the other where each night a Cuban boy serenaded me with Spanish folk songs from his balcony while I melted to the sounds of his perfect guitar.  We mourned the irony over late morning brunches in our pajamas--in my pop-music free apartment, of course.

By fall they moved on to California, taking only what they could fit in their little car.  I waved good-bye holding the last armful of everything left they couldn't carry.  They spent the next ten years carving out a life together, determined to make music their world.  When I saw them last week they had just arrived in a brand new city, seasoned and familiar with how to turn dreams into bread and butter.  I could have asked them their secret I suppose, but one look at this shot and I already knew the answer.

They have always in so many ways had each other.  And they know so deeply what it means to hold on.  This is the wisdom they share between them--the very thing that makes them able to stand by me, this time, holding all the things my soul can no longer carry.

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Who helps you hold on when times are tough and dreams are pushed to the far edges of reality?  Show us your sages, your guides, your trusted friends in the comments below.

Comments

[Rhiannon]

The wisdom of the littlest people can always help to shed a different light on things.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29414229@N04/2785787727/

[shelli]

What a beautiful post you've written. Wow.

Right now I think this little guy is the only one that keeps me hanging on.

http://www.mamaofletters.com/Mama_of_Letters/Camera_Happy/Pages/Nikon_D60.html#19

[Jess]

That post is poetry.

[Lan]

love this post!

http://whatiseeclicks.blogspot.com/2008/08/theseareafewofmyfavoritethings.html

[margie]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/margela/

i agree. there is a secret to moving forward through life's ups and downs. perhaps the secret is to realize that life does move forward.

[erin.darcy]

This is the most beautiful website...Really, I can't get over it. I come here everyday to find inspiration. To dig deep and find my voice. All of yours words feed my soul-and I truly feel a connection with them. I feel like we are all sitting around a big fire, laughing and crying, telling our stories-warm glow on our faces...
my love-to the sisters.

[Kacey]

What a wonderful post!

This man is always, always there for me. No matter what.He's the biggest supporter of my writing, photography, blogging...of me.

http://www.wineonthekeyboard.com/2008/07/10/wedding-rings/

[camerashymomma]

beautiful words jen. you always move me with your posts. they often just go inside of me, with nothing for me to share back, but many thoughts for me to savor in my heart. thank you for that.

[Melissa]

Wonderfully beautiful post.

My soulmate, literally my other half, and my nephew, who passed on earlier this year but will always remain in my heart:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/melitami/2786149009/

[Melanie]

My mother is my most trusted confidante. She is beautiful, seasoned and wise. I am incredibly lucky to have her in my life. My brother is my strong protector, a big tough cop with a true heart for helping others. My brother and I were raised by our Mom, all by herself. We three are a unit, inseparable and fully aligned, through every joy and sorrow.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/apartmentlife/2484935692
http://www.flickr.com/photos/apartmentlife/2055800515

[stef]

god, this is beautiful jen!!

wow...

[Eren]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/vintagechica/2778072684/

Jen, this post is amazing. I'll be thinking about it for quite awhile. The only photo that comes to mind right now is the above one I took while at the beach a few weekends ago. Our group of friends all gathered at the beach to surround one of our own, my friends 14 year old, in love as she took a huge step of faith. Watching her mother greet her as she came out of the water with tears rolling down her cheeks, so pround of her baby. This is what I cling to...friends, family and faith. Thank you for this post.

[tangobaby]

I don't have a photo to share for this particular post, but I wanted to thank you for weaving such a magical story for all of us. This is really a wonderful post.

[Christina]

No photo today but what beautiful words : )

[Ursula]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cuzamora/2786810305/

[ELK]

Jen your words so touching ~ thank you for sharing your heart.

sitting at the "Chapel on the Hill" is where I feel strength.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sammymom/2787784542/

[jfrancis]

Synonym for Love.

[Rachel Parton]

I may have posted this picture before, but it fits perfectly with this post.

This is a picture I took of my husband, and I called it "self-portrait" because when I looked at the full size image, perfectly reflected in his eyes was me, taking the picture. In my husband's eyes. Our identity has become intertwined.

And if the eyes are windows of the soul, then there's no place else I'd rather be.

http://partonpics.blogspot.com/2008/07/self-portrait.html

[Keri Messina]

I hope these two little ones continue to hold on to each other through life.
http://a638.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/25/l_a5bf0aa36109c726e4c2784b3bf8c49d.jpg

[patricia]

such an inspiring post, really touches the heart. =)

[Carrie]

Thank you for the wonderful post. The beauty of the photo and the words takes my breath away.

This little one can handle me holding on to her -- we are always here for each other.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/read2me/2734438840/in/set-72157606507799582/