I like pictures. I like to take pictures. I like to look at pictures. It's kind of a big part of who I am. I am sensitive, emotional, and in love with memories. It's my hobby of sorts.
However, this last month I've learned some big lessons. A few of you know that as I was uploading some client's photos last month my hard drive crashed. Not just a little crash. A BIG crash. The kind where the folder with a question mark shows up on the grey screen. And all you hear is a clicking noise..... that doesn't stop.
Ugh. Last time we backed up the computer? Before the move. Meaning 4 months ago.
I was hopeful when a couple professional companies offered some help. Sure, it would maybe cost us $1400, but honestly, it would have been worth it to me.
Two send-out companies later, and nothing. Completely un-recoverable. The plate had been destroyed by the pin... or something. That's what the clicking was.
Well, I thought, at least I have photos up thru May? Not really. You see, when we plugged in our backup drive- we found that it had backed up everything on the computer except for iphoto. It was completely missing. After research, we found that apparently iphoto must be closed in order for it to be backed up. Our iphoto was almost always open. NO BACKUP.
In other words: We lost two years worth of photos and videos.
The good news? Fortunately, I had made a few folders here and there outside of iphoto that held some of my favorites for other purposes- ie. 1st year book, give to grandparents, facebook and blogging. So we do have a small fraction, if only low resolution, of the pictures from the last couple years.
Sigh.
It hurts to think about all the photos and videos of the everyday life we've enjoyed, and funny memories that we didn't backup anywhere else. I also had been organizing Stephen's and my childhood photobooks and Stephen's mission book. I'll be starting over next month. I am currently trying to scavenge anything from family's computers, blogs, fb, and the like.
I'm done crying about it though. I actually feel really lucky to have what we do.
And of course, we have Jacob. That's more than enough. His joy keeps giving to us daily and I don't need every single photo to remind me how much I adore him and how much I love being a mom.
There are a few lessons learned from this experience...
First, simplify! I was taking and holding onto way too many pictures and videos to begin with. None of our future children would have ever been able to match the number. And only so many pictures fit into a scrapbook anyhow.
Second. Be smarter than the technology. We should've checked ages ago if the back up's were actually working. We should've backed up more often. We should've paid the extra $100 to have it be more reliable. Now we are going with the online backups.
Lastly, but most importantly- I need to be better about living in the moment and appreciating it more fully. I admit sometimes I am enjoying watching Jacob learn something or experience something amazing and I stress about getting the picture of it, rather than taking in the magic myself. There are some really great examples of this in my circle of friends and family. So, thank you for showing me what's most important.
I doubt anyone really read this whole thing. And that's fine. Because I ramble. I just wanted to record this for my own "history."
And since a blog post is boring without photos, here's a couple recent randoms...
He loves this Elmo hat.
He is such a ham.
