Losses of Rheumatoid Arthritis: Photos & Other Things
A Story of a Christmas Present and Birthdays Past
A few years ago, I got a new digital camera for Christmas. It was too heavy for me to hold. Even with the neck strap, I couldn’t use it.
Eventually, after more time on the RA medicine, I was able to hold the camera for short periods. So I took a few pictures of things that were special to me. There were a couple of birthday cakes and some fireworks.
It’s a pretty complex camera and I didn’t really know what I was doing. So, there were lots of mistakes to laugh about. However, one of them was not so funny. I accidentally formatted the camera.
Just in case someone doesn’t know, that erases all the data – er, I mean birthday cakes and fireworks.
I know how to use my camera much better now. But I have a different problem: I have to force myself to format the camera when it needs to be done. It’s almost impossible to make myself push that button.
It reminded me too much of RA: Photos and memories are so valuable to me
It took me a while to figure out why it was so traumatic to lose those pictures. At the same time that I had lost them, I had lost so much else. I finally figured out that it was like my life had been re-formatted too because of RA. I didn’t want to risk anything else being erased.
Somehow, I guess I connected the two things. I don’t want the trauma of losing any more pictures the same way I don’t want the trauma of losing any more of my life.
Christmas and Rheumatoid Arthritis
I’ll continue to fight this against disease and everything it tries to take from me. As for the way that it forcefully rearranges my life, I will continue to look for new ways to enjoy the old things I love. But I will always adore cameras, photos, and memories – and Christmas presents.
Recommended reading:
A Few of my personal scrapbook photos on this site:
- The Me Before Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Rheumatoid Arthritis and the Kitchen: Hey, We All Eat!
- What Is Joint Protection for Rheumatoid Arthritis?
- Love of Challenge and the Rheumatoid Arthritis Speed Limit
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