summertime memories

A couple of weeks ago, my friend Doug and his sons were leading my family and I to their favourite New York City park.  As we walked, Dough and his boys fell in step with each other ahead of us, holding each other's hands. Then suddenly, spontaneously, Doug began swinging the boys, every fourth step or so. I didn't hear either of the boys ask Doug to do this; it appeared to be almost out of habit, like this was how the three of them always walked down the steet together.

Step, step, step, swing.

Step, step, step, swing.

I smiled.

I thought about how the boys, when they're finally men -- maybe even with sons of their own -- they'll think of the way their dad used to firmly and confidently grab their hands, swing them through the air, making even a simple walk an adventure.

And I bet they'll smile, too.

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Today, share some images of wonderful summertime memories being created.

Crossposted on Chookooloonks.

Eight is Great

Today is my youngest's birthday. He's eight; old enough to conduct an intelligent and interesting conversation. Young enough to still make me smile with his questionable sense of humor and incredibly innocent approach to life.

Of all the photos you take of your kids, I love the ones that embody exactly where they are at a particular age and stage of development. Here, he's still silly, while his older sister plays like a grown-up girl with a baby on her hip and no time anymore for leaf hats on rainy days and other kinds of foolishness.

Do you have a photo that seems to reflects the essence of an age? A picture that reminds you time is flying and this precious moment will pass?

The Calm Out Back

a full menu
inflatable starfish
and a palm tree made of glass
anchored in the bay
lights dim
to that familiar tune
drenched in the remains
of an evening sun
and buoyant conversations
she seeks
the calm out back

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I've been infatuated with words lately. The whimsy and weight of them. I captured this image at the beach last summer and found that the words followed a few days later. Do you find that images linger in your mind and take shape in new ways? Do you let the words come to you just as the images do?

quotable photobles

He felt that his whole life was some kind of dream and he sometimes wondered whose it was and whether they were enjoying it.

Douglas Adams (1952 - 2001), "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy"

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Share with us wonder and questions and eyes bigger than ordinary. Share with us faith and unfaith and how it looks to wonder what happens next.

what makes my day

Sometimes a cup of tea, a good friend and some brilliant conversation are all you need to make your day.

Please show us images that capture moments that make your day today.

And have a great weekend, everyone.

(Crossposted at Chookooloonks)