August 31, 2023, my second daughter was off to college. We put her on a plane and away she went. When we got back from dropping her at the airport I had a sudden urge to frame and hang photos of my kids. A desperate moment of clinging to the past or an attempt to remember the most joyous moments? That is up for debate.

We are now down to one kiddo in the house. The last man standing. I am sure she has mixed feelings about that. This new turn has led to all of us having mixed feelings. For my solo 14 year old it really is a mixed bag; not having a buddy to roll her eyes at when her dad says something dad-like vs. more parenting man-power just for her. Before we blink it will be her turn to go, sometime in 2028. Family photos on the wall is a top item on my project list as I feel time marching on.

I’ve been thinking lately about the concept of time. Just when you think you are enjoying August, suddenly Halloween and the holidays are creeping up. The days go by so fast in the shop and therefore, the weeks, months and even years. I have been here at the shop for 5 years. Although it is going by quickly, the experiences grow richer and richer.

This fall there is a trend in the shop. It is kind of funny how that happens, but it definitely does. Whether it is sports memorabilia week or we are pinning lots of needle points, it happens. But this month it has been really special. Important dates. Items are coming through the door with significant dates attached to them and we are loving the experience of designing and framing them.

A couple weeks ago a lovely lady and her daughter came into the shop with a handful of things to frame. One of the projects involved lace from the women’s wedding veil and her mother’s wedding veil. The wedding dates were April 21, 1951 and November 8, 1986.

We spent a good amount of time finding materials for this project and laying out the lace. At the prompting of her mom, the customer’s daughter confidently trimmed and arranged the pieces exactly the size and shape she wanted. She will some day gladly inherit these heirlooms.

The project wrapped up beautifully and our customer was thrilled. A perfect pair with antique matting, floating lace, and a moulding that feels inspired by Mid-Summer Night’s Dream. One for the books.

“Take care of all your memories, for you cannot relive them.”

— Bob Dillon

About a week later another project came through the door that literally melted our hearts. I woman had found a letter she composed on March 15, 1963 after she had been to see the Sound of Music for the first time. The tickets were a birthday gift from her parents. She was so enchanted by the Sound of Music that she came home and felt compelled to write so she wouldn’t forget the experience. It was neatly typed on a piece of paper with a little pink flower on it. It was the sweetest thing and really important to her. It was for sure of high sentimental value. What a lovely memory and what better than to see it in her home on the wall every day.

It is our pleasure to work on pieces with high sentimental value, and the most inspiring thing about these projects is the focus on joyous life experiences. These items could have been left in a box in the attic and forgotten about. Instead the joy is remembered. I guess the take-away is the honoring of the best times of our lives. We can all look back to happy days and not-so-happy days. Truly honoring the happiest is a decision to choose joy. What a beautiful choice. One we are glad to be part of.

So back to August 31, 2023. I don’t really have anything to frame for that day. Putting my college freshman on the plane was both gutting and joyous. For me the heart-break feeling of knowing things have changed vs. the pure true joy of seeing someone come into her own. When I get a pang of nostalgia for old times, I have decided to choose the later. For me August 31, 2023 is a joyous day of a new beginning. Hopefully by the time she graduates I will have finished the gallery wall project of my dreams.

Cheers to choosing joy!

P

When the Rooster Crows Part 4: Pieces of Time