I ran across an old picture that dates back to the 80s. It’s My grandmother, two uncles, a cousin, my dad, and me. A moment in time captured on film. The setting is probably one of the family Christmas gatherings. My dad is in his traditional Christmas pants that he always wore, and I am in some tacky sweater that’s not even Christmas-y.

Since then, my grandmother, both uncles, and cousin have passed away. Now the only ones left in that picture are my father and I.

I don’t know if you have those kinds of pictures that evoke memories and feelings like that. You see people who are no longer here and would give anything to speak with them again, if only for a moment or two.

I’d give just about anything to step back into that picture and relive those precious few seconds. Even if I could only be an unseen observer, seeing all those people alive again for that brief time would be worth it.

I’m thankful that I got to live that memory and know all the people in the picture. My only regret is that I didn’t say, “I love you” nearly enough to every single person in that photo.

But I have the memory.