As I sat on a beach in the little town of Praiano- a beach I never intended on going to- I overheard a nearby couple speaking English. It’s one of my favorite things- to overhear a common language and jump at the opportunity to speak to them. I observed the husband taking a picture of his wife and as they meandered closer to where I was, I asked if they wanted their picture together. They said no.
A few minutes later the wife re-approached and expressed they changed their mind. As I got up to take the picture, they held up a little baby shirt with a lemon on it. And then it all came together…
I was taking their pregnancy announcement picture (or something of the sorts). Knowing it wasn’t entirely my business and I was just a stranger doing them a favor, I stayed quiet on the matter, but simultaneously was realizing how special of a trip or a moment this must’ve been for them.
As I’ve traveled around, I’ve had a few of these experiences. Whether it was the pregnancy announcement on the beach in Praiano, the proposal I witnessed by the Seine in Paris, or the passing bus filled with a bride, groom, and their wedding party in Edinburgh- these moments are so telling of how everyday means something so drastically different to someone else.
That day in Edinburgh for example, for me, it was a random Saturday. I couldn’t tell you the specific date and in five years I most definitely won’t be able to tell you what I was wearing. But that couple on the bus?
They will.
That day for them, will go down in history as the day they celebrated their love for each other and shared it with all who are close to them. They’ll most likely get the date engraved on all sorts of things- and while they remember, I will always just know it as a sunny day where I happened to be in Scotland, eating a crepe outside, and saw them pass by.
It’s fascinating- the difference in our days. And although that day for me, was just an ordinary day, seeing these moments makes me hopeful. Hopeful for the day I am in their shoes, sharing special moments on dates I won’t ever forget.
