As a professional photographer I get to watch lots of people celebrating lots of milestones and anniversaries. From maternity, to birth. Surprise birthday and anniversary parties to first, second, and even third marriages.
Since I am a father of grown daughters it always gets me when I see that moistness in the eyes of a father as he waits to walk his little girl down the aisle.
Or the unbridled joy and surprise on the face of a tattooed biker when he pulled up and realized that his wife had thrown him a surprise 50th birthday party.
Sometimes get-togethers are not necessarily happy times. All too often we only see distant relatives during the sad times that mark the final milestone in a family member's earthly life.
Recently, I have had the privilege to take photographs at 3 different birthday milestone events. First was a girl's sweet 16th birthday party. The exuberance of youth and the unmitigated joy for life exhibited by the birthday girl, her friends, and family gave me hope for the next generation, even though I wanted to pull them all aside and tell them that regardless of what they think, they are not indestructible, they won't live forever, and that sometimes things don't work out right. Aside from the fact that they wouldn't believe an old grey muzzle like me, why would I want to burst their bubble, who knows, maybe things will always work out, and they will live forever.
Later in the week was a woman that was turning 30. Still young but now with two young children of her own and a family to take care of. The crazy recklessness of youth was gone and in its place resided the pragmatism of a nurturer. She is still close enough to youth to embrace it and all that goes with it, like driving to the store just to get candy, gum, and chocolate milk. But she also knows that she is the keystone upon which the stability of her family rests and that's a responsibility she is not taking lightly.
My third milestone of the week was the most special. It was a gentleman's 100th birthday and his family was throwing a party befitting such a momentous occasion. There are nearly 60,000 people in the United States 100 years old or older, but I've not had any experience with any of them so I didn't know what to expect. I certainly didn't expect him to be so perky, funny, and full of joy.
His eyes held so much life and the evidence of having experienced a century of living. I watched him and listened to him telling stories and greeting old friends and family members with warm handshakes. Smiles of recognition as each guest leaned in to say hello and the gleam in his eyes as they wished him happy birthday gave no doubt he was enjoying the attention.
This remarkable man was born before World War I started. He is old enough to remember when Alexander Graham Bell died. He has been witness to wars, inventions, great joy and horrible sadness. Married for seven decades, he has raised daughters and held grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
We may not all make it to 100 but there will be a time when you sit and replay the movie of your life. You realize that mistakes were made, history was witnessed, relationships were formed, lives were shaped, personalities were molded, and unforgettable memories were photographed in the camera of our mind.
Weeks like this one make me glad I am a photographer. Now, I have to go call my daughter and tell her to start planning my next birthday party.
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keith@keithlewisphoto.com
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