Week 7 Prompt 30

All the memories come flowing back when I look at that photo of us.. The good, the bad, and of course, the ugly. We were on our way to a fourth of July cookout at a family friend's and my mom insisted on a picture. Both of us had red white and blue on, it was cliche but we were dressed for the holiday. I had a red and white baseball shirt and he had on a Boston Red Sox T-shirt. My mother placed us just in front of the pine tree in the corner of my house. I remember not wanting to take it at all but then it came out really well. For once I looked good and so did TJ, a rare occasion in photos with us. It was always one or the other that was photogenic. Although I thought we looked great together, and loved the picture at one time, now when I look at it over a year later the feelings I have about it are not the same.

You keep pictures because they remind you of certain times you don't want to forget like trips to the beach in the spring or hiking up at the lake house. In some cases though the memories trapped inside a photo turn into ones you'd rather just forget. When you have a relationship with someone for a number of years, you take many pictures of the times you had together and some just of the two of you. During your relationship you want to capture every moment of your time spent, the laughs, the embarrassing acts, and the special moments you've shared with one another. Taking a photo is a way of capturing and keeping that memory forever.  However, when that relationship ends or isn't as successful for whatever reason you're feelings towards the moments and experiences may change along with your feelings towards that person. Now you might look at the same photo and feel regret, uncertainty, and sadness. Breaking off a relationship with someone and getting rid of the things that are attached to them some how, like photos or cards are some of the hardest things to go through. Your thoughts towards a person you once loved dearly may change, but I've learned to live with the changes. After all, some change is good.

Today as I look at the picture of us together my feelings have changed. Before I would've kept the photo to show everyone who may look what an amazing person I was with, how happy we looked, and to show them and myself how many good times we had together. Although we had our great moments, some times things just go sour. Not because I wanted them to but they have just changed with time. So, now instead of putting this picture on display, I look at this photo and place out of sight from myself and others.