I’m the sort of person who enjoys the beginning and the end of things – especially seasons. I like the excitement and anticipation of the “new,” but I also appreciate the slightly wistful feelings that come with the end of something special. And now it is the end of summer, and August is upon us. August is always a month of “one last times,” cramming in as many memories as we can before the leaves turn to fall – enjoying our favorite pasttimes before the beauty of a new season arrives. So with this in mind, I’ve especially cherished our recent summer days, with Annabelle’s thumb in my hand, visiting our favorite spots and savoring the fun of this summer until next. Splashing through the sprayground at Zona Rosa, flying down the water slides at Tiffany Springs Acquatic Center, sniffing the flowers at the Overland Park Arboretum, drinking frozen lemonade under the shaded trees of Loose Park, enjoying the outdoor concerts, visiting BADSEED farmers, Brooke and Dan at the Farmer’s Market every Friday night, taking quick road trips to places with sights as yet unseen to us… Summer is just a beautiful time of busy-busy-busy days and lazy, peaceful nights spent catching fireflies, grilling out and sitting on the deck, talking late into the night. I’ll miss it all as the days grow colder!
What made me think of this today, you ask? Especially when it’s still swelteringly hot outside…? Well, as anyone might guess, Miss Annabelle is perhaps my very favorite little person to photograph, and one way I’ve documented her second and third years has been to capture her beloved pair of pink cowboy boots as they’ve traveled with us on her little feet amidst our many adventures. Annabelle has an abiding love for shoes, but the pink cowboy boots have always been highly favored. These boots always seemed to fit and even grow WITH her chubby little feet, despite other pairs of similar size being long outgrown. But today, as we set out to enjoy our day, she attempted to put them on and said, “Ouch! These boots are much too tight for me!” – and a little part of my heart melted, because those pink cowboy boots are a part of her, and now as the sun sets on summer, our season with these dear pink boots is done.
A friend asked me if I’ll keep her treasured pink cowboy boots or pass them on, and though I hesitated, it seemed like an easy answer after a moment. “Pass them on, of course, so another little girl can love every moment of these magical boots, too.” Because it isn’t the boots, it’s the memories, and luckily enough for me – the photographs I hold so dear will be what keeps my memories of this special time with her alive in my heart.
I looked through my archives and the photograph below is the last one taken of Annabelle wearing her cherished boots, nearly a month ago, on a pretty Saturday morning while outside taking a walk. Exactly the sort of day I hope to always remember, when she is older… and her pretty pink cowboy boots (and all the fun we had while she wore them) are of the distantly faded past.
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