Weekly Photo Challenge: NOSTALGIA
“Nostalgia is a file that removes the rough edges from the good old days.” Doug Larson
Weekly Photo Challenge: Nostalgia – Shoeboxes holding memories of bygone days
Sona Jobarteh & Band – Kora Music from West Africa
As I contemplated this week’s photo challenge topic – nostalgia – I found myself pulled in by a pile of shoe-boxes in my dining room area. We’ve been clearing out 23 years of accumulated stuff, in our home, in preparation for the next phase of our lives. I’ve always loved books, music, and shoes and, as far back as I can remember, I collected my share of fancy, simple, and even hard to wear shoes. I am now in the process of whittling down my extensive collection and the shoe-boxes are filled with shoes that will end up on eBay or donated somewhere for others to enjoy.
As my eyes settled on the shoe-boxes, fond memories of party days, trips away, and special events flooded my mind. It suddenly occurred to me that they would make the perfect shot for today’s challenge. We often think of people, places and even foods when the topic of nostalgia comes up but, our personal possessions that once gave us much joy also fit right into that conversation too. Sure, there were lots of other nostalgic memories that came to mind; I’ve written about them elsewhere. But, for this challenge, I chose to wander in another, perhaps even unexpected, direction.
To be honest, I didn’t include shots of all of my shoes, just the boxes staring at me in the dining area. I might go back and dig up a few shoes to share so, that way, you can enjoy both the crazy and the cute selections. Ha! I remember buying my first pair of heels in London, from Russell and Bromley, and strutting around town in them as if I’d worn heels all my life. Later on, I expanded my collection to include shoes from all the top designers and some mid-market sellers too. I don’t know about you but, I loved wearing a new pair to every party, event, or outing, and it gave me much joy to discover shoes by little known designers who later became hotshots in the shoe world; from Blahnik to LK Bennett to Louboutin and on…
More Below!
True nostalgia is an ephemeral composition of disjointed memories. Florence King
Weekly Photo Challenge: Nostalgia – Shoeboxes holding memories of bygone days
FELA: Live at Berliner Jazztage, Berlin 1978
To give us something more to consider, I added some wonderful West African music from some of my favorite artists. We spend our lives enjoying hobbies and doing things that get us up and out, and it is not very often we have time to reflect and share some of those memories with others. As I sort through my shoes, music, and books and divvy them up for their final destination, I’ve decided to reach back in my memory bank to some of the music I still love listening and dancing to. The two I’ve shared in this post are a tiny snippet of my range of musical interests. Like many of you, I also love the hit records that we danced to at parties and clubs. These two are very special to me because they bring back memories of my African heritage, my family, and the years I spent back home in West Africa.
As for the shoes in those boxes, I wore mine to nightclubs, special ceremonies and concerts; some have marks that make me smile. So if you are feeling a bit nostalgic, reach back into your closet and take another look at that special bag, dress, outfit that gave you joy. Pull it out, sit back with your favorite music, and reminisce… It is good for the soul. I have no regrets. Do come back later when I create a college of some of my favorites. What item in your closet brings back nostalgic memories for you? Do share.
Have a restful weekend!
This post was inspired by a prompt from WP Daily Post: – NOSTALGIA – For this challenge, show us what nostalgia means to you — perhaps a moment or scene that makes you feel wistful, happy, sad, or somehow longing for the past. It might be with friends, family, or by yourself — anywhere, anytime of year. We can’t wait to see your interpretations of this theme!
Positive Motivation Tip: Nostalgia gives us a chance to sit back and enjoy the past. Pick the memories that brought you great joy.
PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: All Photos from my personal collection.
Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet
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