Precious

Lovebirds from Christine Mason Miller on Vimeo.

I am enjoying the kind of day I have been longing for for a while now ~ a wide open day with no plans, guests, or requirements.  This meant I finally got to sit down and put together two new videos, both created with footage taken by my grandpa.  This video is from film shot in the early 1940s, including my grandparent's wedding day ~ June 6, 1942.  All I want to do is watch it over and over and over again, and am still in awe of the fact that I have these precious few moments of my grandparents when they were just falling in love and beginning their lives together.

Ours is a video culture now, where anything and everything is recorded and documented in digital formats.  Sixty years from now, I can't imagine anyone unearthing videos of their grandparents and feeling the same sense of wonder I felt when I first watched everything I had transferred from 8mm film and a VHS tape.  I did not know what I was going to be seeing, and even though the total time of this footage amounts to just over an hour, I might as well have been given a trunk full of gold.  In fact, if someone were to offer such a treasure in exchange for this just-over-an-hour collection of film, I would offer my kindest "No thank you," and watch this video yet again.

Precious...precious...more precious than I can express.

{Music is Half Life by Imogen Heap}

Comments

[Heather Plett]

Oh Christine - that is so, SO beautiful! I feel honoured that you chose to share something so precious with us.

[Tara Bradford]

I thought I commented on this, but maybe not. It is a TREASURE, indeed. Priceless! So very special and yes, time goes by way too fast. xo

[Marisa and Creative Thursday]

omg! that is incredible and you did such a beautiful job putting it together. how lucky are you to have this? oh and they look like such a wonderful couple. Is that the grandma you always take about?
oh and the song, beautiful too. ok, I'm just beside myself over here :)

[vivienne]

i'm so touched by this.
i can only imagine how much this must fill up your heart, seeing your grandparents like this.

so very precious!

[Tara Bradford]

So gorgeous and special! xo

[jen gray]

gorgeous. ...

[Di]

Too scared to look at the film but loved this post. I've been too far from home for too many years now. I imagine I could fall to pieces over treasure like this.
Thanks for Imogen Heap though ... I had never heard of her
xo

[Dragonfly Reflections]

What a gift this is. Thank you so much for sharing a little with us.

blessings,
Kelley

[Liz]

Both of these lovely videos had me in tears. I think for many of us from the same generation it's like having the photos we've looked at of our grandparents suddenly spring to life. The colors and fashions are the same. Easy to see my grandparents' faces in yours. Thank you so much for sharing!

[SarahWT]

Breathtaking... :)

[Donna Heart]

Strange... I'm sitting here thousands of miles away, crying and laughing over the footage taken of complete strangers! But I can see how beautiful and precious this is, and how wonderful it would be to see my nana and pop again - I miss them so. Oh and the perfect song too - thanks swirly...

[moyra]

me too am all plinky plink eyed. its beautiful. We have one reel of my parents wedding and there is something just so astonishing about seeing them all young and moving and in colour. I worked as a film archivist and I just LOVE old film. This is really beautiful stuff. You are lucky indeed.

[doorways traveler]

oh honey, this was just brilliant. so evocative and beautiful. the music is perfect.
thanks for sharing the love.

[Gillian]

You are more than lucky.
I'm weepy seeing this.
This conjures up the 40's for me with the images of my own grandparents; love that era so much, the innocence, the optimism, the strength.

Thanks. xo

[Molly]

I have similar video of my Grandparents, their friends and my dad when he was growing up..wow, I can't watch them with out getting all gushy.

LOVE the song you chose!

[Ginger Hendler]

That was so beautiful...poignant. How lucky you are to be able to have something so precious.