Friday, April 29, 2011

Coming out of the shadow.

Grief is grief is grief is grief. Every one deals with loss differently. These photos are my favorite of the latest crop, shot in Winnipeg on Easter weekend. A favorite holiday of mine, and a hard one this year without Auntie Marj whipping around her kitchen, potatoes enough to feed an army, creamed peas, table cloths as familiar as my own hands. This year was a little different, but wonderful in it's own rite. There were no creamed peas and change of scenery.

There was a hole at the table. But there was still laughter.

And then there was Romeo.

Six weeks old, this boy birthed by my beautiful and strong cousin Kate. I so respect the way her and Jay run their family ship. Babies have a quiet way about them, reminding the ones old enough to understand the depth of loss the importance of birth, of newness, of hopefulness, of fresh beginnings. These photos mean a lot to me as they were a gift given. The more photos I take, the more I am beginning to understand and appreciate the subject. Everyone has a story to tell. Even babies.

My eyes alighted on a short sentence today while reading yet another book on midwifery--death is the shadow of birth (Anita Diamant).

Not sure of this flow from mind to mains at the moment, life and death are ringing in my ears. With my weeping return to my home in Montreal came a new understanding of where I come from, and who I am becoming thanks be to my family.

Uncle Jim, congratulations on the birth of your new grandson. Romeo James, named after a good man. 

Proud Grandpa; Winnipeg, 2011.
Right light; Winnipeg, 2011.

2 comments:

  1. I got to hold Beth's new nephew (Eli Josef) last week and I was thinking along the same lines. You articulated it so well.

    A package is en route to you! I'm in Prince George, awaiting the beginning of the season - holed up in a motel today while everyone is at courses working on my first grocery list. It's good here. Planters are good people - everyone I've met so far is lovely. Okay. Enough. Your latest batch of photos are brilliant. Love.

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