"There is nothing more touching to me than a family picture where everyone is trying to look his or her best, but you can see what a mess they all really are. Frozen in the amber of the photograph, you can see all the connections and disconnections, the stress and the yearning. And you can see the pride in their lineage-- in that big bottom lip, say, that went from grandma to dad to baby. It's there on their faces for all to see, and you can see how they love it--that big lip. it's their immortality."
it made me think of the family photos that we took easter weekend...
clearly we're working HARD to look like decent human beings. the thing is, this photo doesn't show the anxiety and sadness we had that morning, remembering my grandfather who died on a Good Friday, and being so disappointed that neither (yes, i mean two) Easter services we went to were even the least bit celebratory or hopeful. of course we all completely love each other, but this photo only shows us trying to look that way. but lamott also writes this:
"there are pictures of people in my family where we look like the most awkward and desperate folk you ever saw. poster children for the human condition. But I like that, when who we are shows. Everything is usually so masked or perfumed or disguised in the word, and it's so touching when you see something real and human."
no sadness here. just love. and silliness. and reality. i love it.
hmm. "poster children for the human condition." sounds pretty good.
1 comment:
I just absolutely love this post. I referenced it in today's blog!
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