Fro(zen) in time

Known for his somewhat expensive pastimes, dad has had an ongoing love affair with the lens for several years now.

As a dutiful wife, mom has learned to turn a blind eye (or in some cases, a red eye) to dad’s hobby and stay out of the picture - a necessary precaution, as the man has been known to shoot at sight at times, that too without warning.

A firm proponent of candid shots, dad moves silently and swiftly, never yelling, “Ready?” or lining people up against monuments. It's no wonder then that mom has her mouth open and eyes shut in just about every photo.

While her favorite prints are usually close-ups of the children, this particular photo taken by dad occupies pride of place in mom's virtual album.

Partial to the Buddha for his composure and serenity, mom finds it impossible to walk by Buddha figurines at import stores without a second look. Even with his eyes closed, he imparts a sense of calm that instantly relaxes mom and forces her to take a deep breath - especially after she turns the statue over to look at the price tag on the bottom.

The above photo, taken at a family gathering in New Jersey, graces our desktop, and reminds mom of the surprise anniversary party thrown for her in-laws three summers ago.

While the rest of the family scurried around hanging streamers and keeping a wary eye on the door, dad quietly fiddled with his camera, adjusting the lens and photographing random objects like coffee stains on the dining table and dust patterns on the stairway.

"Put that thing down and give me a hand," yelled mom, perched precariously on a chair on one foot, with a piece of tape stuck to her finger. Little did she know that dad would produce a reproduction that night that she would cherish for years to come.

Mom's parents will be happy to note that this avatar of Vishnu is the last thing mom sees before retiring for the night and the first thing she sees when she awakens.

Anitha, I hope you're happy too, even though this photo tag is late and I twisted the rules a little.