Faces from the past

This is my wife, Debbie's, late great aunt Millie. A kinder, gentler person you'd never meet. She passed away many years ago, but not before I got to know her as Debbie and I grew into what we are today. It was a privilege to be part of her family.

I post this for a number of reasons. First, Noah's full name is Noah Mayer Gideon Levy. It is our tradition to honor the memory of those who have passed on by naming our children after them - if not the full name, then at least the initial. So Mayer is for Auntie Millie. He inherited part of her good soul.

Second, I wanted to define beauty in terms that go beyond what Madison Avenue would have us believe. This photo, more than others, reaffirms that true beauty comes from within. It outlives us, and influences those who come afterward to be better people. Auntie Millie would wholeheartedly agree.

I continue to post more pictures to the accompanying Flickr photo site (see photo strip to the right for the link.) I hope you'll cruise the images there for some more insight into what I think is worth looking at and thinking about.

Your turn: Please select three words that, in your opinion, define beauty.