It was my beloved mom's 60th birthday. What to give the woman who loves me unconditionally, who believes in me unfalteringly, and who taught me how to be strong, kind, happy, and confident -- my rock? Another trip to the spa? Another beautiful scarf? Another piece of jewelry? I have given her these throughout the years and I want something a bit more special than those. What to get? What to get?
I was at the point of frustration when I remembered a beautiful portrait of her when she was but a babe. This picture shows why every baby in our family was compared to her by my grandmother. This picture shows why her neighbor just found her too adorable one day and bit her all over. This picture should hold a special place, but it never had. It was yellow with age and has a few faded spots here and there. What perfect time to restore it to its former glory than her pending birthday?
So I called Action Photo Service. I came in less than a week before my mom's birthday and they had it ready for me the day before the big day without having to pay extra for it. The picture turned out beautifully, although I must point out that it turned out looking more like it has only gone through not too much of a restoration. I was expecting her dress to be restored to its original red color (or at least a hint of it), but it was still a greenish brown. Maybe I should have told them about the original color of the dress or should have asked if they had a more intensive restoration, so I am willing to put the blame on myself and not on them.
I should also share that the final payment was a bit frustrating. I found out that they had a promotion for 40% of if you liked them on Facebook, which of course I did. However, for whatever reason, when they checked their page, they couldn't find my name in the list of people who Liked them. I showed them on my phone that I really did, which they saw yet they still took another ten minutes before deciding to honor the discount. The fellas were pleasant throughout the whole thing, but I was slightly frustrated, anyway. Then again, they were older gentlemen so I assume that Facebook is not as easy for them to navigate as it is for me (or Facebook was the one that messed up, which is, of course, very much plausible). The only reason I put up with the wait was because the discount is considerable (their services are not cheap, but they are totally worth every cent).
My mom absolutely loved my present! The way her eyes lit up when she saw her clearer and cleaner baby picture made me want to pat myself on the back. I knew I chose the perfect gift to mark such a momentous occasion, and Action Photo Service made me look like a great and sweet daughter! read more