I recently pawed through years of print photos to find “historic” moments in Christmas cookie decorating for a work blog. While searching, I found some fun photos from the past, including with one I will not post because it features me as a child sitting on our camp toilet…nuff said.

The others prompted me to send texts to family and friends bringing back memories, moods and attitudes of times past. These images are not just records of our past exploits and moments caught by chance (or by posing for the camera). They are messages from our past selves, from moments when we were taken over by pure joy, or skepticism, or bonhomie.

Yes, that was really us. And we are still the same people. A little older, but ready to go bravely into yet another year, the turn of a decade. Still ready for experience and adventure. Happy New Year, everyone!