I struggled with this week’s theme for the Sunday Stills photo challenge. The subject was near and far. And I was trying to figure out how to do that. Do I take two pictures of one subject? A close-up and then a distance shot? Do I try to take a picture that has an object in the foreground and one in the background? How do I get near and far?
But as I was sitting at my writing desk, I looked at my bookcase. On top, among all the other pictures is a frame that hold’s a picture of my mother and father. In front are two feathers. Finding feathers at just the right time is a way that my family connects with those that have passed.
So far away but near to me in memories.
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My father died in early December 1999. At Christmas, all of his children and grandchildren sat around in a circle in the house he built. We recounted stories of Dad and laughed and cried and laughed some more. And then it happened, as a group we all looked down on the floor and saw a feather, where none had been moments before. We all understood, at that moment, that Dad was content that his family was together.
And this past September, I was not able to be at my Mother’s interment. On our morning walk, while my husband and I were speaking of the planned service and how I felt about not being able to be there, we found the white feather that you see in the picture. It wasn’t just lying on the ground, instead, it was stuck in the ground standing straight up. There was no way that we could miss it.
At that moment, I realized my Mother was telling me it was ok.
I hope you enjoyed this near and far photo challenge. #SundayStills can be found on Terri’s Second Wind Leisure blog.
This is a tough prompt and your take on it is beautiful. I love the imagery of the feather.
That is quite simply amazing Jennifer. I truly believe our loved ones can find ways to communicate with us after passing on. You are very fortunate to have a close family – even if they are not geographically nearby.
Thank you for stopping by, Tina. I am very lucky in the family that I was blessed with. And I agree although those communications might not always come in a way we expect them.
I love your take on this prompt Jennifer, I agree it was a hard one! Your family is obviously very special to you and I love the way you’ve told the story with the feathers. Well done.
Thank you, Deb. I appreciate that because it did take a bit of time before I realized that I could do this one. I need to go and see how other interpreted it.
Jennifer, my heart breaks for you for the loss of your parents. The feathers were indeed a sign that they are near in your heart but far away in eternity. Other than Facebook, I haven’t posted much, but my mother passed away this week, and the hour she passed, I felt a sudden distance from her. Thank you for sharing your heartfelt memories, it brings me comfort as well.
I’m so sorry, Terri. I hope you know that she is actually closer to you than it feels right now.
Very creative and lovely!!
That feather. Sticking straight up. OMG.
I know! Right in the path.
I like the feather idea. It’s such a nice way to think about a passing.
We never thought of the feathers before until my Father died and that one feather just happened to be at our feet in our mother’s living room.