Less is More

My mom came home from the store that morning with eyeliner, mascara, and a small assortment of eyeshadow. It was sometime early July the summer before my freshman year of high school.

My dad drove me to softball that night. It was my last game of the season, and also the last softball game of my six or seven year rec-league career. It was the last time I laced up those eternally dusty cleats, and the last time I took a practice swing on deck in that little white circle on the dirt.

It was also the first time I ever wore makeup. Big deal? Probably not really. But the memories sure stick with me.

My mom had a grand time putting the makeup on me that afternoon, a bright blue eyeshadow more exactly, just in festive time for the allstar softball game that evening.

As I stepped out of the car before the game, I recall still so vividly my dad saying to me, “You know, less is more. Don’t ever forget that.”

And sure enough, I haven’t forgotten it. Thank you for the advice, dad. And thank you for the memory, mom. 🙂

This memory resurfaced this past week when I encountered some camera troubles. I was hiking in the beautiful hills of southern Arkansas. My camera was cleared with 64 free GB to capture the moments. At the peak of the hike, I pulled out my camera and six photographs later, my camera read: “FULL.”

Why? I still could not say. All I knew was that my camera, fully cleared, would only let me take 6, occasionally 7 photos. And you know what? It really didn’t bother me as much as it probably should have. Why?

Because less is more.

I deleted the six photos I had hurriedly taken and spent each one as wisely as possible.

The results?

Seven highly unique photographs, each carrying distinct memories.

I don’t have hundreds of similar photos from Arkansas. Less is more, and my memory seems to agree.