Celebrating a Life

I stumbled across an interesting website called Self Portrait Challenge, and I want to play, but my first image deals with grief instead of joy.

The monthly theme for January is Celebration, and I haven't been feeling the spirit of the holidays. In this season, the colors were less vibrant and the confections were less sweet. They were darkened by the loss of my grandmother and my step-mother and a little piece of myself.

My step-mother had two Maltese puppies at home. When she was in the hospital, I brought her this bear because it was the closest thing I could find in the gift shop to a soft, white puppy. She was agitated, and more than anything else, she wanted to go home. She held onto this bear until she died, and I can't look at it without shedding tears. It will always remind me of her, and I treasure it for that reason. The memory of lost love ones is a celebration of their lives.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Welcome to SPC, Cyan. This image is so beautiful. So is your website design. Please accept my condolences on your losses. I think choosing to celebrate these special people's lives is a perfect way to interpret the SPC theme. I look forward to seeing more from you here.

moif said...

My Mom had a little blue dinosaur that played a lullaby meoldy when you pulled its tail by her bed in the last few months. It was a present from some one or other and I hated it. It was too loud and the lullaby made me angry.

Freja loved it though. She kept pulling the tail until it was taken away from her. After my Mom died, my Dad gave the dinosaur to Freja and I had to listen to her pulling the tail repeatedly. Each time it was like a stab to the heart.

Thus, the little blue dinosaur quietly disapeared.

erin said...

Great pic and beautiful post :)

Anonymous said...

Your pic is very expressive in its simplicity. It says all it needs to. Beautiful.

Mia Peltola said...

Beautiful shot with great light and nice dark colors. I love the atmosphere!

Anonymous said...

Cyan, this is beautiful, both in words and photo. To deny a loss is to deny an existence. Remembering is a wonderful celebration of her life and a wonderful way to start a new year. I especially love the eyes in this shot.

Molly said...

Welcome to SPC. I'm sorry to hear about your losses--I just lost my grandfather a month ago, and it's been a strange world without him.

Cyan said...

Thanks to everyone for all of the kind words. :)

Moif, I can fully understand how the random and constant reminder would hurt your heart.

Jeremy Stockwell said...

It's a beautiful picture.

Sorry for your loss.

Welcome to SPC.

Mrs. Spencer said...

welcome to spc & thanks for stopping by my blog.

your image is so emotional... i am very sorry for you losses.

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous pic love!

*hugs* Sorry to hear about your losses. *hugs*

amy said...

This is very beautiful and moving. Hugs to you!

Diane Dehler said...

That was a wonderful and loving thing to give her. I am sure that it comforted her and now it will comfort you.