Thankful Thursdays

First off, wishing you a great 4th of July tomorrow! This country has its flaws, but I’m still grateful everyday to live here and call it home. 🇺🇸

Fifty-three years in this country has made for a lot of snapshots, and I had a little quiet time this week to go through some old photos. The real kind. There’s just something about them. The texture, the faded colors, the way they instantly take you back. There’s truly nothing like holding a photo in your hands. It’s like holding time itself.

While scanning them, I decided to text a few to my family. Not long after, my nephew Ralph sent a couple of them back, only this time, they moved. Literally. He used an AI program to animate them. Suddenly, our frozen faces, blinked, turned, smiled, even waved. It was wild, like watching a memory breathe. Check out one of the originals below, and then the AI version.

I’ve known about and seen how these platforms can bring old photos to life, but I’ve always felt a little uneasy using them on my own. To me, there’s something sacred about a still photo. It holds a moment just like it was, and part of me wasn’t sure if I wanted to see those moments altered.

But I have to say, seeing those old snapshots come alive stirred something in me. It was a strange mix of awe and nostalgia. Almost like the past was reaching out and saying, “Hey, I’m still here.” So yeah, thanks Ralph! It weirded me out…in the best way.

Sure, technology might keep changing the way we look back, but some things will always hold their magic: the love in a smile, the bond of family, and the stories we carry. And for me, the feel of a printed photo in my hands. No matter what, that still rocks.

For the gazillion printed photos I’ve saved over the years, I’m so grateful.

What are you thankful for today?

Until next Thursday’s post…si Dios quiere.

Here’s original print of me and my nephews Ralph and Rick:

Here’s the AI version: