Trina Machacek
I am the one person who, come high water or company, will sit and be enthralled by The Wizard of Oz. I know people who have never seen this classic tale of good and not so good. Of hope and desire.
Learning to always have hope. But. Yes, a yellow brick road to a “but.” I am here to tell you, my very favorite part? Oh, hands down; the flying monkeys.
As the green-faced, high-pointed-black-hat-wearing wicked witch of the west stands in that big ole open window in her dark and gloomy castle and shouts, “Fly! Fly!,” I shout right along with her. I know her flying monkeys are not good flying monkeys.
But in my head, MY flying monkeys are good monkeys. Monkeys fly in the part of my “brain” that needs “courage” to achieve calm in my “heart.” Her monkeys? Well, they just pick people apart for fun. There is a difference in good and bad monkeys.
Like pictures. There are good and bad pictures. Not movie picture shows. I am talking about pictures you take of your friends, your family, your vacation and today more than ever, of yourself. A “selfie” was not a thing in the olden days of, before phone camera times. I like pictures of people I know.
It gives me a spot of happy to see people I know doing things they seem to like doing. I really think the biggest reason people take pictures or have someone take their picture with their own phone while they are with a friend out doing whatever they are doing, is to share that picture with their friends and family.
I mean doesn’t that make sense. Well not always it seems. Here’s the story. I have to tell you that I do not like my mug shot. Well, wait, that came out wrong. I do not have a true stand on the line, face forward, police mug shot.
Whew! I meant I do not like to see myself in a picture. I will happily share a picture of me with my friends though. I think it is kind of special that someone would want to have a picture of me.
There are those among us though that are not at forthcoming. Who knows why. I mean come on it’s really a compliment if you think about it. In my queendom it is. I hope that is the way of the world and my friends. But nope.
I recently asked for a picture that I was shown. It was a delightful vacation picture. Surprisingly I was told without a doubt the picture would not be shared with me. Was anyone else was allowed the picture? Yes.
But there is a self-proclaimed invisible wall that has been built by a third party between this individual and me. It is so frustrating and anger producing. Sadly, sometimes in life a wall is built. Trying to break it down, crawl up and cross over it, tunnel under it, even being a pilot in a little toy airplane to fly over it.
Nothing it seems will tear down a wall that just stupidly stands there. When that happens everything around it crumbles. That is sad. Then there are sunny day friends that will share even the silliest of pictures with you.
I have a picture from a very long time ago. I’d tell you about it, but you had to be there. Pictures tell of our lives. Sharing and caring. Crying and laughing. Yes, life in all its glory. As the years end many of us become nostalgic.
When I am feeling nostalgic and look through the box of pictures I have, I still smile at the memory of the days and people in pictures I have.
In today’s world, many of our pictures are virtual so when I get the chance to have a picture, I have the ability to print it out and keep it near and dear? There will be people who will always want to know who was that guy in that picture?
Or what was she like, could she cook like you? So, if you are so inclined to want to have that too, share or print your pictures. I’m just saying. You are that important to the people in your circle. Friends, family, maybe even the FBI. The FBI!
Well maybe some don’t share pictures because they are on the fringe of life for unexplained reasons. Gulp. Pictures are important to those who want to be part of your life. Not to mention the peeps that have yet to become a part of this great big world.
Pictures with people. That’s the story of your life. Here’s to hoping you have people in your life that want to share life with you.
Trina Machacek lives in Diamond Valley north of Eureka. Email itybytrina@yahoo.com.