The Wisdom of Old Photographs

And why I hoard them.

I love to buy old photos, one at a time or in great big lots.
I’ve accumulated a huge collection of other people’s memories.

If you think about it, photos are finite.
Sure, we’re taking more photos today than at any time in the past, but ... they’re digital.
You don’t hold them in your hand unless you’re holding your phone.
A paper image—a snapshot of the past—is a thing of the past.
That’s part of why I collect them.
I want to learn about and, more importantly, learn from the past.

I also use them for story ideas and in my art.

Which brings me to this photo.
I picked it up on a vacation somewhere.
I was drawn to the image of a funeral, but more than that, all the flowers.
That’s a ridiculous amount of flowers.
You don’t see that many arrangements at funerals these days.
I don’t know who this person is. They're likely just an average Joe or Jane.
I almost didn’t buy this photo, but before I tossed it back into the pile, I turned it over.

“Again I say - Say it, write it, but please let someone know.”
What did that mean?
Did they want to convey the importance of telling your stories?
Your secrets?
Confessing wrongdoing?
Making amends? Expressing love?
An interesting caption for a heartbreaking photo.

It reminds me how important words are.

So to you, dear reader … Say it, write it, but please let someone know.