Today I was at my grandparents’ house looking at old, black and white pictures of my grandmother’s parents, of my grandmother when she was a little girl and pictures of her when she was my age with little babies hugging her ankles. That’s when this thought/feeling ran over me like a freight train that LIFE just feels so much more real & fragile than it ever did (this has consistently run over me since becoming a mom.)
Here is this woman who once upon a time was a little, bitty baby, the youngest of 6 children, she played basketball in high school (I did too), went to college (the same one as me), married a handsome man from her university (like I did), and started raising a family (like I am.)
I saw generations of people in photos today & realized that life is moving, flowing, & changing. I read a letter that my great-grandmother wrote when my grandmother was two months old. I could only imagine my great-grandmother writing this letter at 30 years of age (3 years from my age now) telling her mama all about her new baby, about the cold “the baby” had, how big “the baby” was, how she came up with “the baby’s” name, & how all the other kids loved having “the new baby.”
In February of 1927 my great-grandmother, was doing exactly what I do everyday–raising babies, writing, being married, missing her mama, making ends meet, & working hard to be a good mom/person/wife. It was neat to see the similarities mirrored from the past & the present in our lives.
This is very sweet. I've had these exact same thoughts too. Great post.
What a beautiful story. How amazing that you have so many generation that are still around in your family. You are blessed.
What a beautiful photo as well. Very sentimental, I felt the emotion through it.
Well done.
HRH Mommy
http://mformommy.blogspot.com
This is a beautiful post! I think it is so cool that the letter was still around and you got to read it. Life really is moving and changing, and it really goes by fast! I love the photo!
Such a beautiful post! It seems a little overwhelming, yet humbling at the same time, to realize the circle of life. I think it's easy for most of us to get caught up thinking about ourselves and our generation, but it's amazing to step back and look at the many generations before us. You're very lucky to be able to share your family with your grandmother…treasure it! 🙂
(And didn't we touch on this a couple of days ago, too?! Oh, and I'm finally caught up on my Design Star DVR…I still love the concept of the show, and I like the judges better this year, but I think I'm struggling with the format a little bit, too, as I am not following it quite as closely.)
I love how we still hold true to some things from our ancestors. I guess when I think about it I too am doing a lot the same…and I never thought I would be.
Awesome post 🙂 I think it's really cool that you have all that info on your great grandmother!
Great post. And you are right, but we never really think about that. Our parents and grandparents, and great-grandparents have all been where we are now – experiencing what we experience. Life ebbs and flows… and changes. We all change. One day our children will be in our position. And the cycle will just continue.
You're right – change is constant. And the fleeting moments in our lives, spent taking care of our kids, who will in turn, be raising kids of their own someday, are the sweetest. They are pretty awesome especially when we think about how our grandparents and parents walked this very road before we did.
Great post!! 😀
So lovely.
Mark & Phyllis Gardner – Dear Kim and Staff,We can’t express engouh what a wonderful experience we have had being a part of 50 South! Mark has never been so warmly received in all of his musical career. We looked forward to every Friday evening, knowing that we were going to 50 South. You all feel like family to us. Thank you each and everyone of you for the unbelievable last night of Marks performance. We will miss all of you and look forward to our return in the spring! Love, Mark & Phyllis
Great post! It's easy to forget that our mothers/grandmothers/great-grandmothers were all at one time "the baby". And one day we'll be the grandmothers and maybe even great-grandmothers…and our grand/great grandchildren will read our blogs and think about us being "the babies" "way back then". 🙂
A beautiful post! And so, so true. I actually try to get in a few pictures with the kids because I know I like seeing pictures of my mother when we were little kids. I can imagine my kids, as adults, looking back at the pictures and being all, "Didn't we have a mother?" lol
Recently my aunt gave me a photo of my grandma and her sister (my great aunt) when they were in their early twenties. I had the same thoughts you write about here. In the blink of an eye they went from twenty to almost ninety. Soon I'll do the same. It makes you want to hang onto each moment.
Such a beautiful story, Kate. Love this because you wrote it with love. That's so precious you get to read that letter.
Isn't it our arrogance to think how busy we are and how hard it is for us- your g/gran wouldn't have had an electric washer/ an iron or even shoes everyday! We are so blessed- yet we forget. I was so touched by the photo- to have someone that loved my babies and was part of their blood- u r blessed indeed
Hugs
C
You are so right about life moving, I was looking at old pictures the other day and it felt like watching a movie. It actually felt better than a movie because I was the star lol it was my story.