Lens Artists Photo Challenge #365 – Longing

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For this challenge Egidio introduces us to the Portuguese word saudade. Wikipedia defines saudade as “an emotional state of melancholic or profoundly nostalgic longing for a beloved yet absent someone or something. It is a recollection of feelings, experiences, places, or events, often elusive, that cause a sense of separation from the exciting, pleasant, or joyous sensations they once caused.“

The closest English word to describe saudade is longing. I had a hard time deciding how to approach this challenge. I finally came up with a few places that have special meaning for me.

Ireland will always be with me. Words can’t describe the beauty of the green landscapes, the friendly and kind people, and the feeling I had while there. I still think of Ireland often and long to return.

It’s been almost 20 years since we’ve been to Florida Keys. I long to return to those carefree days of boating, fishing, watching the sunset, and scuba diving although these days I wouldn’t be diving.

My father was in the United States Air Force. When I was 16 he was assigned to a small base in Italy. Whenever Dad had a few days off we would take trips to see the country. Dad always took his Minolta camera with him and took thousands of slides of our adventures. My younger brother spent many hours converting those slide to digital format (thank you Joe). The following gallery shows three of the many places we went – Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Coliseum in Rome, and Trulli houses in Alberobello. When I look at these photos all my happy memories of traveling with my family come rushing back. I long to return to Italy one day.

Thank you to all the beautiful quiet moments you shared for Ritva’s challenge last week. Be sure to check back on Saturday, September 20 Eastern Time when Tina will be hosting our next challenge.

Egidio, thank you for teaching me a new word. I hope you will join him for this week’s challenge Longing. Be sure to tag your post with Lens-Artists and include a link back to his post Lens-Artists #365 – Longing

For information on how to join the Len-Artists challenge please click here.

Every Day is a Gift

38 thoughts on “Lens Artists Photo Challenge #365 – Longing”

  8. I especially love how you included the slides from the past. Your post brought a smile to my face. I know we have spoked of this before, but our young lives were similar with traveling, as military kids. When I first read the challenge all those “places” flooded back. It is amazing how places make us who we are. I love Ireland too. Such a welcoming country. Very nice post, Beth.

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    1. Donna, thank you so much! Italy was the only place we lived overseas. It was the last place I lived at home before going off to college in Georgia. Most people I know can’t relate to how we grew up moving from place to place. I can’t imagine growing up any other way. I visited Ireland just six years ago and I still want to go back.

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  13. I think we all have some places like that, places we can’t get out of our heads. Your Florida sunset and the fish are both beautiful, and I enjoyed seeing your scanned slides from Italy as we also have some old slides from there taken during the early days of our travels together.

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  14. Good on you for the wonderful memories Beth. I once read that some huge percentage of Americans do not, nor have they ever had, a passport. I for one cannot imagine never having experienced the people and places I’ve met and seen around the world. Personally I believe if more people traveled the world would be a better and more peaceful place. Your images are wonderful – lucky you to have seen Rome with your family! And those little sheep (I think?!) are SO sweet!!

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    1. Thanks Tina! I’m so grateful my Dad loved to travel. I’m sure I got my loving travel from him. I celebrated my 17th birthday in Rome. Before we left Italy we spent a month traveling around Europe in our Ford station wagon. As I’ve aged I’m grateful Henry and I didn’t put off traveling. Yes, those are sheep in Ireland.

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