picture perfect

I was talking with a friend of mine about great pictures. It was a friendly discussion, more along the lines of sharing experiences, rather than a debate. It crossed my mind that not all great pictures are printed on paper. Or these days, flashed digitally on a computer screen. Some of the best pictures are the ones we hold in our minds.

The first such mind image that came to my mind could not have been posed any better. In 2001, I was in Guadalajara, Mexico, training people on a new production technique for the company I work for. One of the girls there (of course) in particular caught my eye. Her name was Flor. Flor de Maria (Flower of Maria). Lovely name, lovely girl.

Flor was a very beautiful Latina girl, her brunette hair trimmed into a bob, and she always seemed a little bit more class than the other girls. Her eyes glistened with intelligence and a love for life. She always had this small, Mona Lisa smile on her face, like she was privy to a secret no one else knew. Or else she was intent in a very cute way. Well, long story short, all of the details about her added up to something special; she was stunning.

One time while at work, it might have been when she was leaving for the day, I watched her walk across the production floor. We all had to wear these ugly powder blue ESD gowns, and they went down to our knees or longer. As I was watching her this day, I noticed she had a lovely, colorful floral dress on underneath, along with cute, brown, sensible shoes. The juxtaposition of the modern, electronics manufacturing outfit swishing just above the timelessness of a breathtaking woman in a beautiful dress froze in my memory. I can recall these few seconds now like it all happened yesterday. It would have made for a great photo.

Of course, these days, I like to forget about the gown and just recall the dress. We interpret history as we want to, but that’s another story.