PHOTOSTORY⎥THIS HAPPENED TO ME
These Twilight Hours Dropped the Curtain as a New Chapter Ushered In
Some private thoughts reflected in these timeless twilight hours in each of the last 6 years
October 2017 6:55 pm
Six years ago can feel like such a lifetime away —
Change plowed into my life with thunderous momentum. My youngest was moving from the stand-alone-6th-grade center to a middle school. My middle son was fuming from every cell in his being that his parents made him attend the STEM academy as my eldest was beginning one of the hardest years in the same academy.
This twilight hour happened as I stood in my driveway after a long day at work.
Perhaps I needed a moment to breathe. Or a moment of escape.
I may have found delight in being mystified by the colors that pierced through these dark trees reminding me that reassuring moments can still be found when seasons in our lives seem to grow darker.
How I was to navigate these hard transitions as a mother? Could I?
The next few years were not easy. Yet, we all were transformed — in more than one way.
September 2018 7:19 pm
Galit, my high school bestie, flew in from Israel accompanied by her three sons to come visit me in Pennsylvania.
We enjoyed a lovely day at the famous Hershey Park. Galit’s eldest son and I enjoyed a couple of hours riding the biggest roller coasters as she accompanied the younger ones on the tamer rides.
Later as we exited the park, I took this picture.
Who would have known that almost 30 years earlier we bid farewell in Venezuela and now we meet again in Pennsylvania, USA?
We continue to touch base every few months. I was recently reminded that life can be harsh.
Her eldest son has brain cancer — the one I bonded with as we rode the roller coasters.
I am at a loss for words, and my heart crumbles every time I think about it. I think of the laughter and joy he shared riding those roller coasters and how often I take my family’s good health for granted. I must not.
We were and will stand together as friends — in the good and the bad.
November 2018 5:00 pm
The culmination of pounding the pavement canvassing for months came abruptly to an end on this election day.
Greeting and hugging many wonderful women I met and worked with for the last few years will stay with me for as long as I live — as well as the invaluable lessons I learned as a volunteer.
This cold twilight hour was just hours before we learned that our county had a historic 66% turnout compared to 46% in 2014 (in the Midterm General Election).
The passion was on our side — the county swung solidly blue.
December 2019 7:40 am
My family flew out of Newark on our way to Amsterdam — Nigeria was our final destination. It was a hectic journey involving fourteen suitcases in tow. I wish that was a typo. You read that right— fourteen suitcases.
The reason is not important. Rather it was all about the destination.
This trip would help our sons — now young men — understand and embrace their heritage and culture, solidifying relationships with family members they seldom get to see.
March 2020 6:54 pm
The pandemic slowly crept in. My spring break had begun, and I dearly missed my husband who had already begun living in Mexico (the rest of us would move once the school year ended). So off I went to spend a few days with my heart.
To the right of where this photo was taken was a tasty burger food truck my husband fell in love with that sat on an empty expansive piece of land.
This land now houses a large HEB shopping plaza and just behind the one school building in this picture is now standing a large hospital. Yesterday was its grand opening!
How skylines and landscapes change in just a few years!
October 2020, 7:03 pm
I now live in Mexico. Traveling between Monterrey and the border town of McCallen, TX became a frequent trip as our belongings were kept in a warehouse in Texas until our permanent home was finalized.
On the left photo you can spot the famous range shaped like a saddle — the landmark of Monterrey, Mexico (Cerro de la Silla). Every time I leave the US and reach this point of our journey, it’s a reminder…
We are nearing home.
November 2021 6:19 pm
Sadly my mother was stricken with shingles that manifested behind her ear just as soon as she arrived to visit us in Monterrey, Mexico. After nearly two months of recovery, she was finally a bit sturdy and strong enough to do minimal sightseeing.
There they are — my dear parents. Some may say they are nearing their twilight years…I hope the sun never sets, if that’s the case.
April 2022, 8:37 pm
It’s my husband’s birthday. This picture is already outdated— buildings fill the foreground of this landscape that now block this view.
Humans are so consumed by progress, aren’t we?
November 2023 6:22 pm
Stopped on my way to the cleaners to take a picture of the sunset once again.
Do I need to say goodbye to a closing chapter?
Am I looking ahead in question and wonderment?
Am I soaking in the present?
Perhaps all three — in various degrees — as the glow of light surrounds me.
I’m reminded, “Breathe — rest. Change is coming. Embrace and live your now.”
Thank you for reading. I recently learned I didn’t get the job I was hoping for. But I am breathing and learning to embrace my now. Thanks for the support Medium family.
All images belong to author. Thank you to the editors of In Living Color for your time and invaluable editing help.