Sunday 19 January 2014

Old Pride

We cruised down the highway singing songs by Queen Bey and talking about nonsense. I closed my eyes and listened to the soft drone of the engine as I felt the road escape from underneath me.

We pulled up to their home and once again I was filled with that familiar feeling. That feeling you get when you visit your grandparents. I'm unsure whether its nostalgia or its just your nose adjusting to that dusty, smoky smell of their home. Whatever it is, it feels good.

My Grandfather showed us his latest artworks. I love that there are people in my family as talented as he. His passion burns bright and has never been extinguished over his life. He took me around the house, like he always does, and showed me his fondest pieces and told me the stories behind them. We chatted about his days in the mines and about how dangerous it was down there but noone seemed to ever bother. They just did what they had to do. My nan, like clockwork, finds a time to show me a trophy she won when she was about my age. She won a beauty pageant in her old, local town and even though she's shown me this trophy a 100 times before, I don't mind. She is so proud of it and I am proud of her.

Sometimes I admire pride. I admire how some people can be so passionate for their art and even though they don't say how proud they are of themselves with their words, you can see it in their eyes. It is a beautiful thing.

We spent the rest of the afternoon laughing over Grandad's dirty witty jokes and ended by talking about days gone by. I suddenly felt unaccomplished for my age. When my grandparents were my age, they were married, working, and living on a few pounds a week. They didn't have much but they were happy. What a humbling reminder for someone who lives in today's consumerist world.

As we left, I waved goodbye to their wrinkled faces that smiled back at me. I don't get to see my family often, but it's nice to know that they are there, scattered around the world, without whom my existence wouldn't be so. Such a wonderful thought.

8 comments:

  1. Wow. You are incredibly talented, in love with your style. Can't wait to see more :)

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  2. Your family looks absolutely beautiful. And these pictures altogether are beautiful!
    I can definitely feel the 'love' through these.

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  3. Your photography is awesome! Thanks for showing us!

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  4. This put the hugest smile on my face. Grandparents are so special. The way you photographed everything just reminded me of childhood and happy memories. It's quite powerful :)

    My favourites are of your Grandad and Nan talking and looking at each other.

    Ps. The nuggets are so worth it. Don't ever eat more than four though haha :P

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  5. This is a beautiful post. Time spent with grandparents is so often enlightening, if not very amusing. You have captured not just your grandparents, but also (to me) grandparents in general. :)

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    1. Enlightening and amusing. You have summed them up perfectly!

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  6. There is something about your photographs that are really very lovely Sam. I'm having a new found healthy addiction... reading your blog and scanning through your photos! :)

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