I get all the chatter about technology and how it’s making us slow and disconnected. I live it. Frankly, there are times when I want to connect, but only from a distance. Connecting face to face is so messy, isn’t it? I mean, who wants messy. So yes, sometimes my phone/tablet/computer/etc. is rotting my brain and stripping away my social skills. Yes, it’s important to put the phone down. Have a conversation. Face to face. Enjoy the concert, your baby’s first step/food/burp/anything instead of spending all your time trying to capture it or checking your facebook/instagram/snapchat/whatever.

You know it’s a problem when the makers of these glorious machines have to create a feel good commercial to combat this perception of living your life with your face permanently stuck in your phone.

You know it’s serious, when marketing has to get involved. For me, It’s so bad that sometimes I kick myself for being slow on the draw because I miss so many good shots that will of course launch me into inevitable viral stardom, as all good photos are want to do.

But then there’s that one shot. That one shot that I captured that makes me so thankful.

I see this photo and I am instantly transported back to that moment. I can hear my husband’s laughter. I hear my own laughter as the scene unfolds in front of me. In the moment I was trying to capture a father/daughter shot, our son decided that he would not be left out. Which only made us all laugh harder. Then a life flashing before my eyes in a not morbid way happens.

The “I thought it was brilliant but really it was a stupid move” to let my daughter bury me in the sand.  How insanely excited she was at the opportunity and the itchy rash I developed as a result.

My daughter openly embracing ocean waves this time. Four years ago she wouldn’t have it, but this time she was so brazen that she shook her booty in defiance. This was quite the eye opener into her personality. Also a lesson that when you turn your back on a wave, brazen or not, the wave does not care and will show itself.

I reeled in a tuna people. That was awesome.

But how sad that there was never another bite. I so badly wanted to catch a wahoo. Doesn’t everybody?

The first and last fishing trip with our daughter at least for a while.  The boat stopped and my daughter proceeded to throw up on me. I don’t think she really wants to catch a wahoo.

Not wanting to get sick myself, I bought suckers in hopes that the goodness of a blow pop sucker would distract me from all that motion. Of course then I realized that my sucker to fishing trip hours ratio was incorrectly calculated.

The terrifying moment I watched my daughter take a tumble in the waves. Recognizing I’m not always in control is not really comforting to me, but realizing that I have to be brave so Lola can get up and try again is equally terrifying. Proctor and Gamble should make a commercial about that.

There was the moment I “surfed” on the boogie board for the first time ever. Sure it was me and a bunch of 10 and 12 year olds, but it’s never too late to live your dreams, right?

Of course that amazing moment was followed by an equally crucial moment – the realization that if the nose of the boogie board goes down, I go down with it. At least I cleared my sinuses.

My son’s joy encountering sand for the first time.  Followed closely by the realization that when you rub your eyes with said sand, everyone will most likely start crying

I see the photo and I remember it all. I fall in love with these people all over again. I’m instantly transported to the beach, and the fun we had. Truth be told it wasn’t perfect, that photo isn’t meant to fool you. There was plenty of drama. I should document the drama lest you think things are perfect. But then again in the midst of drama, my arms and hands are usually flailing about.  It’s been rumored that you’re supposed to hold your camera still to get better shots.

Of course nothing is as simple as we would like it to be. You can’t live behind the lens trying to capture every shot. Well, at least I can’t. I had my scheduled camera moments and then I put the camera away. And the interest of honesty, I put the camera away because it’s a burden to have it around all the time. There’s all that sand, water, sticky ice cream, snacks, babies, kids, fun to be had. Frankly it’s no place for a camera to live full-time. But them moments it does capture, I’m so thankful it was around.