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Friday Family History: Grandma at the Coast


I've started a huge undertaking; I'm scanning my old photos, organizing them, and storing them on an external hard drive.  I'm going to keep the hard drive in our fire-proof box.  If we ever needed to evacuate our home, I could grab the box and not worry about the photos.



Anyway, as I was working on this project, I came across this photo of my grandma, taken before she even was a grandma.  I realized that she was 40 years old when this was taken--not that much younger than I am now.  (I know I'm closer to 50 than 40, but humor me!) 

 I don't know the story behind this photo--maybe my parents can fill me in--but I can relate to the contemplative expression on her face.  Her boys were young adults at the time; she soon would welcome daughters-in-law into the family.  One phase of life was ending, another beginning.  

Perhaps I'm reading too much into the photo.  I remember Grandma as always smiling, so it might have been that this was taken before she had a chance to turn toward the camera and protest about having her photo taken.  I can hear her now, scolding the photographer about not even giving her a chance to smile.  

Whatever thoughts she might have been having, I love this picture.



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Thanks for cameras, old photos, and grandmas!

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Comments

  1. Marisa BJuly 5, 2013 at 7:18 AM

    I think a picture paints a thousands words and for now what you are feeling is spot on I became 50 this year and it boggles my mind that I cannot wrap my mind around this age. I have contemplated on so many things in the past year; one of them is how everything is going to change from here on in...nothing will be the same - I can't help myself...back to your picture I am sure if look at it again 10, 15 or 20 years from new explanations will come up...here is another thought ask your children I am sure something else will be added about this picture; think that is so awesome, because this picture is pure and truthful!

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  2. NancyJuly 5, 2013 at 8:55 AM

    I've been scanning photos, too, and finding many treasures.

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  3. DebbieJuly 5, 2013 at 10:24 AM

    Great photo and it is wonderful you are getting them all organized!

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  4. Tamara CameraJuly 5, 2013 at 12:46 PM

    I love pictures that tell stories. I mean, they all do of course but some make you wonder more than others. Beautiful photo and beautiful thoughts.

    ReplyDelete
  5. BiancaJuly 5, 2013 at 12:55 PM

    Lovely picture....

    Just found a drawer and big cardboard box filled with old pictures at my m.i.l.'s home this week... She never put them in an album, but from what I've seen so far they're from her childhood (1925) untill the last years..
    Only sad I can't ask her any more who and what is on them....
    Good for you to catalogue them now, while you still can ask about them. For us it's too late, but still glad they're there.

    Have a wonderful weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  6. StitchinByTheLakeJuly 5, 2013 at 1:53 PM

    My daughter has been doing that same thing Kristi - I have 3 tubbies of photos I'm going to send her since I'll never get it done. :) blessings, marlene

    ReplyDelete
  7. UnknownJuly 5, 2013 at 4:23 PM

    My daughter and I scanned in a ton of old pictures before my trip back to Michigan last year so that I could take digital copies to the family there. It was a huge project but it was so fun seeing them and remembering the stories behind each one of them.

    ReplyDelete
  8. An Oasis in the DesertJuly 8, 2013 at 10:19 AM

    Such a great idea!

    ReplyDelete

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