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Today is my dad's birthday. If he were alive, he would be turning 58. It is one of those days I think about him and smile, wishing that I could pick up the phone and sing him a song, pick out the perfect card in the aisles of hallmark and write him a letter that will make him beam. Although it is a letter dad will never receive, I wanted to write this to him today on his birthday.
Hey Dad-
Today is your birthday. I'm so thankful for your life and that I got to share 14 beautiful years of it. Although I haven't seen you in a while, I want you to know how much your life and legacy mean to me. You were such a great father and you continue to be such an inspiration to me. The other day, I was home in Oklahoma with mom and Katy, we decided to pull out some of the home movies that you used to film of us. We chose the one of Katy's birthday at the water park. Remember that? I think I was probably eleven at the time, you filmed all of us going up and down the slides, laughing and encouraging us. I never saw your face in the film, but I heard your voice for the first time in 11 years since you passed away. It was the most amazingly beautiful sound I have heard in all my life. I immediately felt my heart become full as my eyes welled up with tears. If love was a sound, I could hear it in your voice. I could not think of a more meaningful gift to be given. To hear you laugh, it was almost as if you were right there with all of us, crouched around that little video camera listening. It felt like family. It felt so familiar and so right. There have been times in the dark closets' of my heart I worried I had forgotten what it sounded like to hear you say my name. In that moment, I was reminded you had been there all along, living among the pockets of my heart. Thanks for sticking around with me Dad. And thank you for taking all of those cheesy home videos ;) You have no idea the gift you gave me on so many levels. I love you so much. Happy Birthday Dad.
Love, BoBo ;)
This is a photo of Dad and me when I was just a wee-one.
This moment that I shared, with the videos and the photos reminded me of the amazingly powerful medium that we are blessed with the opportunity to work with. Photo and video transcends time and understanding. It can take people back to hear the beautiful sounds and sites of the people that they love. I cannot begin to explain in words the power this moment had on me to hear the sound of my dad's voice.... I cried throughout writing the entirety of this blog entry as I brought myself back to that moment. What we do as photographers and/or videographers is real. It's powerful and it is full of life. What a gift that we are entrusted with giving people the gift of memory. I hope I never take it for granted. This moment reminded me of that.
Thoughts
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Hi Sarah,
i know this is late as a response but thought you should know.
I am the dad of two girls aged 10 and 12. Since their births, I have videotaped them growing up. One thing that always bummed me out was the sound of my voice on the videos. It sounds very cheesy at times.
Recently, I took on the task of putting all the videotapes on DVD disks and I often thought of editing out my voice with music or something else.
I wanted to finish this in case I should be taken away from my family suddenly. You never know.
But when I read your letter to dad, I was overwhelmed with emotion and I'm trying to write this through a veil of big wet tears (lol).
So because of your letter, I find confirmation that all this filming of cheesy videos was as important as I thought it might be and I also find confirmation that I should keep the tapes intact.
Thanks for sharing.
Bestie- can't wait to meet him. Beautiful letter and am so glad that you had such a sweet time with your fam when you were here.
i usually just stop in and search for new photos to be amazed by. i love to gawk at your work. it's gorgeous. i usually don't read the paragraphs w the pics. a picture speaks a thousand words to me. of course the title caught me. blasted. unfortunately i am one that can say "i know where you're coming from". i lost my dad to diabetes in '94...i was 13...um, he was 66, though. i know. super age gap. we didnt have a camcorder when i was growing up, so i have no tapes. however, my mom came across a family reunion video and i just recently got to hear my dad talk. truly an amazing sound. the year after he passed, i started carrying a camera w me everywhere. just cheap fuji cameras from walmart, but a camera. i'm very big into capturing moments and i honestly didnt put the two together..my dad is the reason i do this now. thanks dad.
I can't even read the letter, because every time I try, my eyes fill up with this watery stuff and every thing gets blurry
What a lovely letter, Sarah. Thank you for sharing.
Reading your post about your father caught me by surprise, and made me start to cry. Your father would be so proud of the woman and photographer you have become. i only wish to be as good as you one day.
Awww, SARAH! This is so touching! I couldn't help but tear up while reading this. Hope you are comforted.
Sarah you are the cutest! What a special note to your Dad, thank you for sharing it with us.
Just beautiful. Your passion for the responsibility and honour of recording peoples memories is something I also feel deeply. You have a marvellous way with words. Thanks for sharing this.
Cool post, Sarah. I have two daughters. I bought a video camera when the first one was born two years ago. Now I know why. Thanks for reminding me.
Thank you for sharing this. Your story and your words are so powerful and truly inspiring. Wishing you all the best :)
Thanks for sharing more about your family! We love you guys and we know your dad would be sooooooooo proud of you!!!!!
wow. even though your years to enjoy your dad were cut short ..... you have some wonderful memories that were created. what a lovely letter you have wrote. big hugs to you and thank you for sharing. so beautiful.
Absolutely powerful. Wonderful.
Thank You so much for sharing.
Rachel :-)
this is so raw tears are welling up in my eyes too. i'm sure your dad will be extremely proud of what a beautiful person you are today. *hugs*
I couldn't have come across this message at a better time. thank you.
thank you for sharing this.
You just made a grown man cry...
i know exactly how you feel.
This post was beautiful, Sarah. So open and honest, I know that your dad would have loved the letter, and trust me I'm sure he has already read it. I believe that even after people are gone they are here all the time with us, giving us strength when we don't even know it. Your love and appreciation for him and the time you had with him is so visible and the impact he had on your life is evident from this beautiful letter. You highlighted something that is so important that I think sometimes people take for granted, the power of both photography and videography is immense. I find myself taking pictures every day of the normal things that go on in my house. Sometimes my family asks me, "why are you taking photos of this? it's nothing special." to which I reply, "it may be nothing special today, but in ten years time we will look back at these pictures and be happy to see normal the way it used to be" This was a beautiful post for me to read today, so thank you.
What a truly beautiful tribute, Sarah.
Your writing is honest, rich and full of love.
You had me in tears. Thank you for reminding me how precious life is.
Sarah, how precious of you to write about your Dad. June 1, is always special to me. Rod loved his birthday. I visited his grave yesterday with Mom. He was a wonderful, fun, funny brother and he loved your girls. Thank you for writing to him, means so much and sharing with all of us. You are so precious. He is missed very much!
Love you, Aunt Karen
ah Sarah so so beautiful! love the photo, he would have been so proud of you
what a beautiful letter and tribute to your father...he would be so proud of you.
It takes great courage to write something like that on your blog. I almost lost my father when I was 14 (brain tumor), and your post reminded me of that time of loss and confusion I felt and how grateful I am that my father pulled through and is still here with us today.
You are right. What we do with our art and our passion is something that will last in our clients lives and the lives of their offspring.
I am sure your dad is shining where ever he is when he thinks of what you bring to this world and the honor you give him by sharing your story with the masses.
It takes great courage to write something like that on your blog. I almost lost my father when I was 14 (brain tumor), and your post reminded me of that time of loss and confusion I felt and how grateful I am that my father pulled through and is still here with us today.
You are right. What we do with our art and our passion is something that will last in our clients lives and the lives of their offspring.
I am sure your dad is shining where ever he is when he thinks of what you bring to this world and the honor you give him by sharing your story with the masses.
you cried writing and i cried reading. what a beautiful way to remember your dad and tell him happy birthday :)
i love that you look so much like your dad... :) what a great letter. sending big hugs your way friend...
thank you. thank you for sharing your memories, your heart, your love for your dad. i'm going to go call my dad right now. thanks for reminding us all about what is truly important in life... each other.
Sarah, I am crying and happy and mostly proud. Love as always. Alex. (I have some great photos I would like u to have)
this is so beautiful. my eyes are filled with tears and my throat got that lump as i read your words. i was thinking so many things in the like yesterday on Memorial day about a woman who impacted my life incredibly and is no longer here. those pictures, videos, letters, jewelry will alwasy hold a real, alive memory. what a gift to have them to remember by. just as written word, even on a blog....thank you for writing and for being willing to share intimate thoughts.
You made my cry sweet Sarah. Though I never met him, I know that he would be as proud of you today as we all are to know you. My love!
beautifully written Sarah! I have tears in my eyes thinking about this post from my own kids' perspectives.
I'm so touched, Sarah. My daughter just turned 15, just a bit older than you were when your father passed. As a hospice volunteer, end of life is something that's familiar to me and sometimes hits home closer than I'd would like. Thank you so much for sharing something so dear to your heart.
I'm sure your father would be so very proud of the amazing person you've become.
Sarah, what a beautiful post. I had tears reading it. Thank you for sharing and the reminder of the powerful responsibility we hold as photographers.
Well put, Sarah. I'm so sorry your dad is no longer here, but I'm sure he is very proud of you.
so beautiful, sarah. thanks for sharing.