Marking the years

Dear Diary,

The inside of my cellar door is marked with names.  Everyone who visits for the first time records the date and their height.  Some of the names on this door are of people who have since passed away.  For some who visit frequently, and are growing, this door becomes a record of their lives.  Rebekah and her mom and dad began visiting in 2006, when she was in the third grade.  She will graduate high school in June.  She and her mom will visit over Memorial Day weekend so I can make a portrait of her.  Her mom has had a portrait done every year since she was born...another way to mark her life.

At some point in our lives we stop "marking the years".  I think this journal, if I am able to keep it up, will be my way of marking my days, my weeks, my months, my years.  Each day is important in its own way and photography allows us to celebrate the large and small events of our lives...they are all important.

Somebody should tell us, right at the start of our lives, that we are dying. Then we might live life to the limit, every minute of every day. Do it! I say. Whatever you want to do, do it now! There are only so many tomorrows.
- Pope Paul VI