Holiday Air

Last night, Sara and I went to one of our favorite places to go during the holidays, the LaGrange Antique Mall. During this time of year all the dealers bring out their vintage Christmas decor and trinkets and it's fun to walk around and visit the memories of our childhood. A lot of the items are from the 1940s-1960s, but because a lot of these types of items are handed down, we had them in our homes. I grew up in a family where Christmas was celebrated immensely. We had all the holiday lights, toy trains, tinsel, the works.

Last year during this time, Sara, me and my family were traveling back and forth to Mayo Clinic where we celebrated both Thanksgiving and Christmas in hospital rooms and hotels, so we didn't really get a chance to really decorate or put up a tree. Plus, we were moving to our new apartment which made the whole season sort of a wash.

I can't say for certain how this year will go because things still seems to be pretty stressful, but it was just nice to go somewhere quiet, like the antique mall, and stroll around laughing and sharing memories as we found them.

While I was there, I found an old Leica point-and-shoot camera in great condition and I just had to have it. It was cheap and I knew just what I could do with it. If you know me, you know that I'm a "collector" of these types of simple cameras. I just love the look and feel of an old 35mm camera, and the shots I hope to get out of them. I have a bunch of film just waiting for the time when I can bring the camera to my eye.

Every time I find one of these cameras or rifle through my collection, I think about what new event will spark the photographer inside me to finally come back to the surface. I loved shooting, and still today I love the concept of photography, but I just can seems to get myself out there and take photos.

Already, I've cleaned the camera I bought last night, found a battery and downloaded the manual off the internet. I've been taking practice shots with no film all morning, so I know every feature once I decide to slip the camera into my pocket and step outside the door. Right now, I'm writing in my journal to plan special events in which I will bring the camera. Maybe this will help me get over the writer's block-type hump I seems to be having for photography.

Maybe breathing some of holiday air from last night will remind me of when I was a kid and Mom would have her camera ready to document every present, every smile and every silly moment we had during the holidays. Maybe this is the year Santa will finally bring me some inspiration.