A few years ago, when we were preparing to move, I found an undeveloped roll of film from one of our old cameras. I had no idea what images were housed in the little cannister, but I was excited to find out. The next time I went to the grocery store, I dropped to roll in the one-hour developing bin.
The photos turned out to be a batch from our honeymoon, nine years earlier. They were taken with my husband’s camera, which was having issues at the time. I think we figured the photos wouldn’t develop properly, so we never bothered with the roll. We were newlyweds and wanted to save the $5.95 processing fee.
I couldn’t wait until we got home, ripping into the envelop as we sat in the car. Most of the photos were blurry, but there were a few gems. It was like seeing our honeymoon from a different point of view—like stumbling across another person’s photos of mountain scenes which happened to include us.
We haven’t used a film camera in close to eight years. Now I am all-about my digital Canon.
Recently, I managed to fill my 2.0 GB memory card. A Canon Moment was occurring, so I scrambled through the camera bag to find another memory card. I loaded the first card I grabbed into the camera, only to find it too was full. I was ready to erase it when I thought I better see what was on it, having no recall of what pictures could possibly be clogging it up. I started the slideshow and nearly began to cry.
I saw about 50 photos taken between September 16th, 2006 and September 24th, 2006. Eight lost days, when Beatrix was between 8 and 16 days old. The card was a small 64 MBs, used for the rare (obviously) backup. I never uploaded them. I forgot about them. It’s strange to think I’ve been toting them around in a camera bag all this time.
Seeing them again was like seeing her for the first time. Yes, I have about 1,000 other photos of her first few months of life that I’ve seen over and over. But these were new and there are some truly great photos.
They include the only photos I have of me nursing her. The bonus? Joel had fallen asleep standing up, resting his head on my lap as I fed his new baby sister.
I was happy to find beautiful pictures of my dear mother-in-law meeting Beatrix for the first time:
And then there were photos of just her—sleeping, yawing, eyes open, fists clenched, profiles, full face shots, her feet, bundled in her carseat. Eight days, regained.
Oh, this post made me laugh out loud at Joel asleep on you (that is so much like Gray will be!) and then cry- Gretchen, this is precious. What a find.
Steph
Adventures In Babywearing’s last blog post..We Don’t Need Another Hero
What a wonderful surprise. I love that Joel fell asleep standing up. Having a new baby sister must have been hard work! Heh.
Jamie’s last blog post..No Big Deal
What a wonderful unexpected treasure!
Melanie’s last blog post..My Blogs
Oh my I know you were just tickled to death when you realized you had never seen those pictures! I love pictures nursing! I don’t have any with my youngest, I wish I did!
Happy Mommy’s last blog post..This Blog
What a treasure you found! I know that was truly a blessing to you.
I don’t always comment but I really enjoy your blog.
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That is truly a find! Better than $20 in a jeans pocket any day!
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Oh, what a wonderful suprise.
Lizz @ Yes, and So is My Heart’s last blog post..A Summer Letter
What a wonderful find! We lost my mom last September, and I have been going through her things with my father every Sunday (don’t ask – she was a hoarder). Apparently, she rarely developed her film. A week ago, I found TWENTY-ONE rolls of undeveloped film in a baggie. It seems like every coule of weeks I find more. It’s kind of nice, actually, to get them developed, like getting a piece of her back, even if only for a moment.
midlife mommy’s last blog post..Babytalk
Oh, how wonderful! The photo of your MIL w/ Joel kissing Beatrix is just priceless. I’m so glad you didn’t delete them!
I love surprises like your found roll of film! Like Midlife Mommy I’ve been going through my parents old photo albums and slides (many forgotten, stored away in unexpected places). I gain a new vantage point of them … and myself as I explore each picture!
Brenda’s last blog post..Defining middle-age my way
What a wonderful surprise! An what uncanny timing. Just yesterday, I popped a rarely used memory card into my camera to snap some quick photos of the kids being their cute selves. Lo and behold, I found about 40 photos from last Christmas and Peter’s birthday that I somehow never uploaded.
Not as precious as your photos (love the red shoes, BTW), but still a wonderful trip back in time! Love that photo of Bea looking up at your MIL — precious!
So sweet! I love that he fell asleep standing up!
Kristin’s last blog post..Thoughts Flowing Through my Head
How precious! That nursing photo is so sweet, love little Joel sleeping there. And your red shoes. Super cute.
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Oh, how precious! Abram could fall asleep like that also!! The one of him over the couch was on the SP Board!!
Dawn’s last blog post..Etsy Sites
How cool!!!!!!!
Rach’s last blog post..I’m a preschool sell-out.
Oh how prescious! Wow…what great memories to get back
Melany’s last blog post..Just so sad