Memories of Love
Wednesday, June 23, 2010 by Chris Sneddon 
I lost my grandma Lucy one week after Mother's Day. It wasn't unexpected and we knew the end was imminent, but that didn't make it any easier. I'm glad that my son's have many memories of her and I don't want them to ever forget her. More importantly, I'm glad that I made a point during the last couple of years to photograph Lucy as much as I could as well as documenting her last few months for our family.
My youngest son and Lucy had a special relationship. He was her 'baby boy'. When she was at her crabbiest he would sing for her and make silly jokes, getting a giggle and smile out of her when no one else could. When she was dying I told him he didn't have to go to the hospital to see her because I knew how difficult it was, but he insisted. I'm doing it for her, he would say, tears in his eyes, she needs me.
I had been trying to come up with ways to somehow use my photos of Lucy as sort of a memorial to her when the opportunity came to get a canvas print from Hello Canvas. I knew immediately what I was going to do. I showed my son all the pictures I had taken of Lucy over the past couple of years and told him to pick his favorite one to be used. When our package arrived only 5 days later, we couldn't wait to open it. I don't know who was more excited about it, me or my son! Once it was opened, we propped the canvas up and stood back and looked at it in awe. It immediately brought tears to my eyes. Mama, my son said excitedly, MeeMaw would be so happy! Not only would Lucy be happy, my son is happy and that is everything. Thank you, Hello Canvas, for your help in keeping the memory of Lucy alive, just as it should be.
What about you? Do you do anything special with your photos to remember those that are no longer with us? Please share with us your ideas or show us in a photo what you have done. We'd love to see your memories of love, too.
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Hello Giveaway! It’s random giveaway time again from our friends at Hello Canvas. YAY!
Leave a comment here between now and Thursday at midnight and you could win a 20X24 canvas of your photo of choice from Hello Canvas! Hello, indeed!
EDITED TO ADD:
Thank you all so much for the response on this post! Hello Canvas was so touched by this conversation of Love that they are now offering 40% off all orders when you use our promo code HELLOSISTERS! HELLO!
And thank you sisters, for sharing your beautiful, sweet, warm comments with us. You have truly touched me.
Reader Comments (127)
My husband's grandmother died very suddenly a couple years ago and she was almost like my own grandmother. It was so unexpected I never really got the chance to take any photos of her. She was also the person who was always behind the camera taking photos of everyone else. So now my husband's family has very few photos of any family event. That makes me sad.
So snap them when you can. Anything and everything may be a special moment fifty years from now and you'll be glad you had those ridiculous photos of you and your siblings in your bathing suits.
http://www.cabinfeververmont.com
http://www.nekphotography.blogspot.com
Fathers day was an especially tough time for me this year (having lost my father several years ago). As painful as it was I found comfort in sharing a photo of my dad and I when I was a toddler.
I miss his presence greatly.
http://dychedesigns.blogspot.com/2010/06/absent-loved-ones.html
A very close friend of mine passed away last month ago after a tragic accident, and you've inspired me to go and dig through my big box of old photos to find some good memories of fun times with him.
I lost my father to cancer 6 years ago and never had the chance to properly say goodbye. I had already immigrated to the United States and only saw him once before the illness took him. Even then, he was... different. I missed the gradual transition, as painful as it is to everyone involved. I saw him when I could only barely recognize him anymore and the shock got the best of me. I didn't know how to say goodbye. And when he finally passed I wasn't there, and due to a snow storm, couldn't even make it in time for his funeral (they happen within 24 hrs from death where I am from).
In any case, I've always wanted to go back and get whatever pictures I could of my dad - performing public speeches, in his businessman persona; playing his guitar and singing; playing futbol; at the beach or bbqing with the family. He was such an amazing and multifaceted person and I want to create a collage that reflects that. Then I'll give it to my mom. I know she misses him (they were together from the time she was 15 y/o).
Thank you so much for sharing your story and reminding me of mine. I need to get this project on top of my priority list.
what a beautiful tribute to a beautiful woman....
my prayers are with you.....
Thank you for sharing!
i had photographs of my mom and my dad for years on my fridge after they passed. nothing fancy, but i got to see them both every day, many times a day, and it always warmed my heart (after the initial sadness).
my fridge doors are bare now except for one thing ... a little torn page of a magazine i've had for years which says "another day, another chance to feel healthy" ...
What a beautiful story...and like so many it brought tears to my eyes, but because I saw my own son in that story.
Thank you for sharing.
Lovely tribute and wonderful photo~
Patty