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| I personally have never worked with a camera this large - though I do remember them |
When we moved from West Valley to
Oregon, I felt rushed. I think I left
behind all the family tapes. Tony and
his wife were moving into the house and I knew that he would enjoy having the tapes
- if he happened to have a working VCR.
I wondered if I should bring my
camcorder as finding blank VHS tapes seems obsolete. Many I had purchased over the years. Many (as it turns out) are ones that got
passed down from my brother Corey. I don't remember having so many camcorder
tapes in my possession, but thus far I have come across almost 25
We're still not fully settled with the
move. The counselor in RS had called me
to remind me about having an activity and suggested that we call the committee
together to go over something for next month. We've been asked to plan a food storage or
emergency preparedness activity. The counselor of the committee sounded even
less thrilled that I was/am. I don't have a problem with testimonials - but
really, what kind of turn out are we going to get if that is the subject?
I had also mentioned an activity that
we had done in my last ward and so have been going through the camcorder tapes
to find said activity. I don't know if I ever transferred or where the VHS
ended up if I did. I found it after
going through the first 11 or 12 videos.
I wasn't floored by all of the recordings I came across, but did find
myself in awe about some of them.
I came across recordings forgotten or
misplaced - that I didn't really view as treasures at the time. The year I had received my first camera and
several Christmases and activities with the boys, Jenna growing up - even one my
niece and nephew as babies - both now in their twenties with babies of their
own.
In addition to family events, I found a few tapes that I know were not
transferred. My wedding reception for
one. Within the first year of our
married lives, our house had been broken into.
I had always believed the tape had been stolen. What a treasure. I found a few treasures - a couple that I
think Corey would be interested in viewing - or perhaps he already knows them
by heart.
I actually don't remember having gone through
the house with my mom - but I have it on tape.
After her house had been broken into, we had gone all throughout her
house to document items in case of another robbery. I also found some tapes including interviews
on journaling, my dad's responses to a bunch of questions, and participation
from neighbors (a few who have passed on) in a video that I attempted to make
for an annual event for my dad's birthday that my family had started shortly
after he had passed. There are also a few performances (two poorly recorded)
including Forever Plaid, Wizard of Oz and Into the Woods.
I found a couple of blank tapes as
well. What a waste. Camcorder still works. I had even filmed Jenna opening her gifts our
first Christmas in Oregon so that I could share it with her brothers and their
wives (my daughters) and they could see her opening the gifts that they sent. It hadn't occurred to me that I was working
with a relic and that I wouldn't have blank VHS tapes on which to transfer to -
nor knew if any of them even have a working VCRs. When am I ever going to be able to use the
blank tapes now?
I'm certain I lost a lot of footage
before our move to Oregon - like watching Daisy (a dog we had when we lived in
Kearns) catching soap bubbles in her mouth or Houdini (our first dog) catching
a baseball or bouncing a basketball on his nose. I did find a camcorder tape of him catching
darts in his mouth. Crazy dog.
We left behind a few scenes that
documented Jenna's sisters. Our wedding
in which the bishop performed the ceremony - only the bishop wasn't in the shot
and so it looks like we're being married by a shadow. Early family videos of the boys before I had
married into the family.
But then again they're VHS. Lots of them. Some people still own VCRs -
and they're not quite as overlooked or foreign as say the Beta - but
still. The boys have their opportunity
with VHS right now. It may be a foreign
concept to Jenna by the time she graduates high school. Too bad.
Lot of great things about modern technology - but really sad when
something only three years old seems outdated.
I'm grateful for my memories. Wish I could make them all tangible to share
with my family.
Fun discoveries. Discarded treasures.
