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1.06.2010

Ephemeral

In the 1999 Caldecott winner a Vermont farm boy, mesmerized by ice crystals, describes snow as being as beautiful as butterflies and apple blossoms.  

"Under the microscope, I found that snowflakes were miracles of beauty; and it seemed a shame that this beauty should not be seen and appreciated by others. Every crystal was a masterpiece of design and no one design was ever repeated. When a snowflake melted, that design was forever lost. Just that much beauty was gone, without leaving any record behind."  
- Wilson "Snowflake" Bentley, 1925


Because snowflakes were too complex to draw before they melted, Bentley attached a bellows camera to a compound microscope. After years of trial and error, in 1885 he became the first person to successfully photograph a single snow crystal; he captured over 5000 images of snowflakes over his lifetime.

Bentley described snowflakes as "miracles of beauty."  She is, too.  And we hold her gently, knowing she will disappear, knowing that much beauty will be gone.

JEB

10 comments:

  1. what a beautiful picture. You too have captured a priceless moment.
    Judi

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  2. You both look like you can see each other's beautiful souls. I love it.

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  3. But unlike the snowflake that melts, her beauty will remain in your heart for a lifetime and beyond.

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  4. I agree, Celia's beauty will be a part of me forever.

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  5. A beautiful picture.
    Her precious soul will remain forever and I pray that each day with her would be filled with the sweetest of memories.
    Love and hugs and prayers,
    Debi

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  6. I know the science teacher in you hasn't forgotten that nothing disappears, it simply changes form. That miraculous beauty you know as Celia will still exist in another form; memories, love, and great peace.

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  8. Celia is my snow angel. Love never melts and is with us always.

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