Thursday, November 1, 2007

the ultimate in naval gazing



Today's theme over at Picture This is Mama, which offers the perfect opportunity to focus on myself for a frame or two. As I read Tracey's description, I thought to myself, "What defines me as a mama?" Not a difficult question, it turns out. It's my belly, which has become somewhat of a roadmap of my life. My belly button is a marker of my distant past, my connection with my own mama; my less-distant past represented by the now mostly-closed piercing just above it. My slightly stretched violet tattoo is a touchstone, a connection with a different time in my life, when I only dreamed of being a mama myself and thought I'd be young forever. And, of course, in the past this belly was also a home, a cocoon for my Eli. In the present it is rounder, softer than it used to be, but those newer qualities are hard-earned and cherished. And then there's the future, when it may again - someday - be a place for a bunch of tiny cells to stake a claim at the core of my heart, the center of my universe. Whether that happens or not, my belly is what it is because I am who I am. And who I am is a mama.

8 comments:

mandaroo63 said...

I loved this post. Not only because it has a "violet" on it ;) But because of the way you defined this part of your body, the appreciation that you have for it and the fond memories that you have that are related to it. Really cool....

Christina said...

Oh, how I love this! Such a perfect post...the words behind your picture are so full and beautiful.

chaoticfamily said...

Lovely post. Lovely words. Lovely Picture!

Cari said...

I absolutely love this post and picture. A beautiful take on Mama...

Brittany said...

What a wonderful take on today's theme. Really a wonderful picture too!

Rose said...

That just says it all. Thank you.

Anna said...

Beautiful photo (what a hot mama!) and beautiful post. Thank you!

Arizaphale said...

Superb post and photo! A winner I think!!!! And what Mandaroo said...I second all that!