Dear Whoever

Part 2:

“A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words.”

As a man, I don’t have a picture with my father, rather my late father. I do remember very well: in the year 2000, my brother and I had a disposable camera. The film could produce, or did produce beautiful moments with my beloved family: my father, my mother, my sister, and 2 very difficult to please teenage boys.

Looking back, Fate made sure I had a picture with everyone of them. Of course, 1 photo with my parents – together. The second photo, with my siblings – together. However, most of the photos seemed special to me, then. Only now, I comprehensively understand that “the other photos” were ’’selfish selfies’’.

That was the last time I took a photo with my father. I had a very nice camera in 2008. I did not take pictures with him, or my mother. They were there. They were always there! For once, I did not think of anything that could happen to them. I only wanted pictures of “moments” that were not always there: dressed nice, at Gaborone, at Sandton, at Glasgow, at the airport and up in the skies – on the plane.

My father rested in 2009. He was not there anymore. I was sure he would always be there… physically, like always.

So please, go out and take “EVERYDAY’ pictures of you: only with your mother, only with your father, only with your sister, only with your brother, only with your cousin, only with your niece, only with your nephew, your uncle, your aunt, your grandmother, your grandfather, your friend, your pastor, your colleague, or just about anyone. Yes. Please.

This is not your picture; it’s not only about you. This could be your child’s photo, your grandchild’s photo or any of the next generation. Yes, your next generation. One day, they might be based: in Timbuktu, in Tokyo, in Dundee, in Nová Banǎ, in New Jersey, or maybe even locally, right at home. Probably, they would have been told a lot about you, about how you lead your life and how good you were! But nothing will connect them to you other than the silent thousand words, as portrayed in the picture. Whether they know your face or not. Surely, they will treasure those pictures.

Let’s start thinking ahead – way ahead.

Start clicking, literally,

Somebody

P.S. I still take selfies.