I have a group of friends that I kept close to me, despite living all over the country from each other. Most of them are pretty well off, and we have already given each other enough house warming gifts, candles, and clothes since college. We are now in the beginning parts of our adulthood (mid-20's) and moving all over the place. It can be sad at times, not being able to see each other for almost a year, when only a few years ago we saw each other every day. Since we are all moving on to different parts of our lives we have to strive more and more to stay connected in each others' lives. Therefore for Christmas this year I am making a photo album for each of my best friends - but this won't be like most - it will include pictures of each of us with each other in each part of our lives. Such as when one of us had a baby - I will put pictures of her and her new family in all albums, and pictures of the other friend at her new job will go in all the photo albums instead of just hers'. This way we're experiencing life together through the pictures, and sharing it to keep for years to come.

My grandmother had a similar idea when I was younger - she got 7 photo albums, one for each grandchild, and put very old pictures of our parents when they were young, and us when we were very young in each album. I have a picture of my mom as a baby with my grandmother, and her mom that I absolutely treasure.

Making sure to find the right albums is also important - make sure the photo pages are acid-free, and use special pens and pencils that are acid-free as well. If you use tape or glue, make sure it is acid-free and photo-safe. I encourage you to mark the date and people on the back of the photos, so years from now when you are gone, the future generations will be able to know who is in the photograph.

Learn more about this author, Melissa Gaug.
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