This morning I woke up to a bit of sun, a drizzle and a perfect rainbow making an arch right over our apartment. On my run today I was pondering life as I normally do, and I saw the most beautiful picture as I was passing by. It was one of those pictures that was a moving picture, with real people, but I passed by so quickly, I just made a quick picture stamp with my mind to remember the moment. 

If I'm thinking back to the photograph in my head now, I can see the tiny Italian restaurant with a table outside. A young boy is sitting at the table and sitting across from him at a tiny circular table is most likely his grandfather. They are talking a bit, but it is clear his grandfather is giving him pretty strict pointers on how to play a successful game of checkers. You could tell with his serious fact but also small side-smile that he is serious but not too serious. 

For whatever reason, as I was running, the Pixar Animation film of the older man playing checkers with himself came into view. Ironically, this pixar film came out at the same time The Parent Trap did which happens to be my favorite movie of all. I think the last time I played a game of checkers was in Volant at a bed and breakfast with my brother. It's interesting how one beautiful photograph can prompt another joyful photograph which in turn produces an equally joyful photograph. And as all these photographs are passing by in your mind, you come to the realization that the joy of a picture prompts new pictures but uncovers many older pictures as well. Perhaps fuzzier but equally full of love.. 

And just like that-with a game of checkers- your mind has made its way back and forth from white square to black square until your mind is filled with checkerboard memories of hope and love and faith.