Documenting the hard times

It feels a bit weird to be talking about this among the posts about Christmas trees and family traditions. I guess it serves as a reminder that not everyone looks forward to Christmas in the same way. Some are grieving loved ones, others are mourning the lack of a relationship that may have broken down, some struggle with seasonal depression and find the winter months the hardest; the list goes on.

It’s so easy to feel like these times shouldn’t be documented, that we should put away the camera and remember and reflect on only the good and the positive times.

I know in some cultures it isn’t the done thing to take photographs at a funeral. It goes against their customs and beliefs. However, my Granny asked me to document our family saying goodbye to Grandpa.

His ashes were interred in a beautiful eco-friendly burial ground where families are encouraged to come and picnic.

The meadow is beautiful, even on a cold, winter day.

It makes me emotional thinking about the residents of the retirement village lining the road and clapping for my Grandpa as he left the village for the last time.

I want to remember the misty morning and the walk down to the meadow and how the mist seemed to disappear for his interment, and fall again as we walked back to the cars.

I want to be able to look back on how the dewdrops had become icicles and glistened in the sunshine.

We chose somewhere eco-friendly because Grandpa loved to be outside. He loved to go for walks in nature and I know he would approve of his resting place.

So yes, this year is different; and yes, our family is still grieving and feeling his loss. But he would have wanted us to document the hard times in among the moments where we celebrate the good.

N.B . For the sake of privacy I haven’t uploaded photos of people as they’re mourning. It feels like something that I should keep more private.