Three views to photograph on the first birthday in heaven

By Monica Vest Wheeler

Just how big of a camera lens do you need when you're shooting earth from heaven?

I'm imagining my mom on her first birthday in heaven, November 4. She's not snarfing down a birthday cake. She's photographing the world from the most glorious perch possible. Now, that's THE best way to celebrate!

Is she carrying an assortment of lens … or just packing a zoom like I do when I'm not sure where my photographer's eye will take me? Usually I rely on just one because my neck can only take so much weight and strain. Thank God she's not in any more pain …

Her eyes fill with excitement as she gazes beyond the rainbows … the rugged mountains and serene valleys … the mosaic of farmer's creative dirt and plant patterns … the winding shorelines where land and water play daily … the geographic directives drawn by humans to separate and unite us …

I'm sure, like me, she relies on auto-focus to not miss a thing … yet, I know she's also extremely patient in search of THE moment to unveil before her so she catch it for all eternity. It's that unexplained instinct when you know you're going to witness magic, even though you're not sure what it will be.

Now, Mom, let's say you've got that zoom. Make sure you get all three perspectives, in no particular order:

• Wide angle — you need the big picture to deliver the observer to the overall scene …

• Normal — the view we see with our human eyes without the mechanics of the camera lens …

• Close-up — the tiny details brought to life by the lens that we may have not noticed in our casual observation …

Yes, you should have been a photographer who traveled the world … followed your passion and heart … I should have encouraged you more …

Oh, why didn't we at least run away and do that for a weekend together?

We thought we had other priorities … but oh, how mistaken we were …

What did you photograph on your first birthday in heaven?

Did you get the wide angle of me driving across the country … past the pageantry of fall's golds, oranges and reds …

Did you get the normal view of me hugging your sister as we said how much we loved each other and missed you … and wished you happy birthday …

Did you get the close-up of my tears … sprinkled throughout the day …

Happy birthday, Mom … I love you …