When we see an old photo, we are consumed at once by the past and the present. The photo transports us to who we were at the time, but with a wiser more tender gaze. We can actually see our growth as a
When I was younger the most compelling thing about my Grandmother was the wrinkles she had. As a child I saw them as something to play with, like squishing her cheeks together or pulling the extra skin on her arm. Now when I think of that it makes me cringe at the thought. When I was young seeing these wrinkles made me happy because they were so fun to have, but now that I'm older I dread ever getting them. My grandmother always talked about how she hated her wrinkles but I never understood why. When I look back on old pictures I can't help but feel sad because I realize I've lost that sense of innocence I used to have that made me view the world in such a way. But also now that I'm older I'm seeing it in the way it really is.

Above my dresser is a picture of my grandmother. Her delicate and gentle figure is sitting so softly on a cheap old plastic chair. Her matching white cardigan is draped over her shoulders warming her only the slightest bit so she feels cozy. There's nothing else in the picture but the grass and a lone tree behind her, but yet she looks so content with what she's doing. Her vibrant stripe shirt compliments the big smile on her face causing the defined smile lines carved out by her laughter. Her eyes are resting on the camera with a sense of peace, making me feel calm. When you look closely you see her wrinkles, fine lines and the blue of her veins popping out on her legs, but those things are what make you feel comforted. When I see those features on my grandmother it places a gentle touch on my heart giving me a sense of home.

My dad is the person I go to for protection and like my grandmother he always baffled me with his tendency to always be happy. In a picture of my brother, my dad and me from Halloween, you see my dad holding us in both his arms. My brother is being pulled into him with one hand while I'm being held on the other side. My small baby body is even smaller compared to his strong arm stretching across my torso. I'm looking up at him compelled by his big smile and shiny clown hat while my brother is making faces at the camera. I was concerned with my dad and what he was doing but my brother was focused on making him laugh. He wanted to impress him with his thrown together costume consisting of a tattered clown wig and a pirate outfit with straggly ends. If he approved, it would be the best part of Halloween. I just wanted to watch him, to sit there and see him doing what he does. He wasn't doing anything particular, he was just being my dad and that was the most fascinating part.
Another picture I have is of my sister and me at her prom. She was 17 but I was only 5 at the time. My cheeky smile matched my perky little bob cut and pink flowered outfit. She had a black dress and her hair was done up all nice but I wasn't focused on that. I always thought my sister was so beautiful but as a child my opinion was invaluable to her. She bent down looking at the camera dreadfully with a plastic smile as I cuddled into her side smiling at her. I wasn't admiring her as much as I was trying to pose for the camera. Her arm was around me holding me tight so I wouldn't fall over from excitement. I was on my tip toes jumping with anticipation of her big night. It was memorable for her but not in the way it was for me. I saw it as my future, it was an example of what my life should be. I started thinking of what it will be like for me, I'll have a nice boy to bring me and a pretty dress just like my sister. Maybe I'd even use hers like a passed down wedding dress. We only saw my sister for about half an hour before her prom and the picture took two seconds, but I still look at it and remember that day.

Now that I look back at these pictures and remember the times as they were I realize that these pictures don't just capture our memories, they capture our lives. We go through life not thinking about so many important things. We skip over some of the most important parts but with pictures it gives us a second chance to really evaluate our past and how we've grown.