Does A Photo Really Gain Value With Time?

Last night I dreamt about my grandpa and the two of us walking together. He was about 75-80 (the age he was when I lived with him for the first time) and I was an adult at my current age. In my dream nothing was said, we just walked along a simple trail next to an apple orchard. I felt his love. This would not have been all that different from when he was alive. He was certainly not an emotional, love-dovey type of grandpa, but yet I never doubted his love.

I had the opportunity to live with my grandpa at three different times of my life, all of which were incredibly instrumental times, and two of which I consider to be some of the most painful times in my life. When I was 11 years old, and shortly after my parent’s divorce I moved in with my grandpa for about two years. He became a father-figure of sorts to me at that time. Later, after having a fall out with my mom, and being emancipated as a junior in High School, we shared rooms next to each other in his house. Lastly, in my early 20’s and newly-wed, we moved back into that same room. This time it was to take care of him as he died. These are times of my life that were instrumental in forging my most fundamental traits.

My grandpa used to always say, “I never worked a day in my life, because I loved every moment of it”. I always questioned this sentiment and thought that it was just him being overly optimistic. As I have thought more about it, I certainly imagine that he had difficult days, but I think what he was really saying was to fall in love with the process, difficult days in all and that the only way to excel and do great work is to love what you do.

Does a photo really gain value with time? Yes, I believe it does. The photo of my grandpa wearing a 3-piece suit, standing behind his new Ford Model-t is one of my favorites photos. In 1926, at age 12 he, as an entrepreneur working the oil fields in his own way, was able to earn the money to make this purchase. This was just the beginning of an incredibly full life.

Thank you, grandpa, for the love and guidance. Thank you for being an example of ambition, selflessness, and for leaving behind a legacy I will forever try to live up to.