Will you check out my smoking hot grandma? This photo was taken in the early 1970′s about a year or two before I was born, and it’s a jewel in our family archives. That’s my grandfather in the hat and my cousin on the right. And let’s not forget Frosty, peeking in from behind. A post on Andra’s blog this week reminded me of this moment in my own family’s history.
That’s how you do a snow day.
My mom said it best about my grandparents and their legacy, “We never had much. But they sure knew how to have a good time.”
To illustrate that particular point, here’s another photo of someone–probably my cousin– being pulled on skis. Behind a car. Probably by my grandfather.
The people in these photos departed this world too soon. And I miss them.
My family is as dysfunctional and crazy as most dysfunctional families are. But as I get older, I’ve come to appreciate my colorful history– the origin of me. The other day, my mom insisted I watch the movie, Carolina, starring Julia Stiles and Shirley MacLaine. MacLaine–the eccentric grandma– showed striking similarities to the woman in the bikini. My favorite line in the movie is when she says:
And, finally, Lord, bless my Carolina’s heart for she is the best part of me. Amen.
And, I hope that, for the rest of my days, I can live out the best part of those who came before me. Because the thing they taught me– the most important thing– is how to love really, really well.
What pieces of truth do old family photos stir up in you?
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What a foxy grandma. I could never imagine my strict, serious grandmother in a bikini. She sounds fun.
What a lovely, lovely post.
I can positively say that I have never seen my grandmothers in a bathing suit, let alone a bikini. Of course, as kids we only saw them rarely since we lived in Ohio and one grandmother was in Florida and the other in Massachusetts. We only saw them once a year or less in the case of the Fla grandma. I did see old photos that my Mom has and they were the standard fare of school photos, etc.
I do know that my Mom was quite a looker in her younger days as she and my Dad did a lot of Roller Dancing with various semi-professional groups. The roller skating photos were just like you would see today on Olympic Ice skaters, fairly skimpy and lots of sequins.
I think it’s great that you have a smokin’ hot granny and they knew how to have a good time. As I mentioned on the Andra-Dite blog this morning, our parents are always surprising us and that obviously applies to our grannys as well.
Angie, I am so glad to see these photos after hearing about them this week. Like you, I never met most of my grandparents. All but one of them were gone well before I was born or right after, which amounts to the same thing. I stare at old photos of them and wonder who they were and what they really thought about things. My Dad’s dad, in particular, is someone I wish I could’ve known. Every story about him screams, “Character!!!” And, it makes me wonder, how much more was there that no one will tell me now?
My mom’s 60th birthday is coming up and we are throwing her a surprise party. I am making a slide show containing pictures of her to display at the party. I got a large box from my dad full of pictures from the last 40 years. With my glass of wine in hand, I plopped down on the chaise to tackle the box. Little did I know the emotions it would stir up. 2 1/2 hours later, and another glass of wine, I was left feeling happy that I had such a wonderful childhood, sad about those not in our lives anymore, and grateful for the kinds of parents God blessed me with. I had no idea I would shed so many tears, both of joy and sadness, going through that box. I now consider that box a gift!
And by the way Angie…..there was more than one picture of you in that box! :~) You really are a lifelong friend!
It’s interesting how a certain truth shines through old photographs. We can really get the feel for the people, and the times. Your family looks like they embraced life, enjoying well their days together. It’s a beautiful thought, to live out the best of them, what a nice tribute.
What a beautifully written post! A legacy of love is the most important thing, ever. Nothing trumps it.
My grandmother Compton was so important to me. On Dec. 26 as we were driving into Summerville and headed towards a Christmas celebration with my in-laws, I realized it was the very date we always arrived in Summerville to share holiday celebrations with her and all my assorted kith and kin. The fact that she is no longer standing at her back door, arms akimbo, telling us to get into the house before all the heat goes out, made me weep. I turned to Bill and said, “I miss my grandmother. I can’t believe that after 22 years the desire to see her is still so strong. Seems I’d get over it.” To which he replied, “What? Is there a time-limit on love?” And of course that was the truth. There is no time limit on love, or the need to be with those who created the love in our lives.
This the the link to my grandmother’s house in Summerville. I loved being there as a child, and when I was a young mother. I miss her. http://maps.google.com/maps?q=102+South+Hickory+Street,+Summerville,+SC&layer=c&sll=33.023190,-80.181624&cbp=13,298.69,,0,0.08&cbll=33.022987,-80.18118&hl=en&sspn=0.006295,0.006295&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=102+S+Hickory+St,+Summerville,+Dorchester,+South+Carolina+29483&ll=33.022977,-80.181184&spn=0.005865,0.011362&t=h&z=17&panoid=CWn0oWWYLo85bXUze0nkrQ
Too cool! I will join the camp of those who can say that I never saw my grandmother in a bathing suit. Heck, my mother would rarely wear one as she didn’t know how to swim. She loved being near the water and beach combing, but she really didn’t like to be in the water.
And dig that hair! Always love to see the funky hairstyles from our past.
Omgoodness! I can honestly say I never saw Aunt Frank and Uncle Bobby like that, but it is sooo them! Who is the cousin? Billy? Very nice Angie. At the end of it all, love, really is what matters.
Yes, it’s Billy!
Hi blog friends, I’m enjoying reading all of your comments and stories! The craziest thing is that my grandma is in her mid-thirties in this photo, around the same age as I am now. I’m loving the beehive hairdo.
I think you should definitely get a beehive while your in Mickey World and get a shot of it in one of those photo booths and post for us. What great fun that would be!
I got a beehive last year, and I LOVED IT. One of the most fun things I’ve ever done with my hair.
What a fun family! How great that you have these photos and memories.
So glad that was your favorite line in the movie….mine too!!! Didn’t point it out when I told you to watch because I knew it would hit home and make you smile! As you know, YOU were her heart and this was a heart-wrenching post!
I can only imagine how proud you must be of this amazing woman you’ve raised!!
Tracey
Thanks, Tracey, for your kind words! I definitely am! Hugs, Debbie
Hi Angie,
Love all the photos. They do look like they’re having fun! We’ve gotten increasingly caught up in managing our things rather than living and loving our lives.
I prefer adventures and experiences!
I’ve got tons of old photos of my grandparents and my parents in their youth. Painted several of them. They were black and white so I got to add all the colors. One of my grandparents in Maine on a date of sorts and another of my mom on a date at the tender age of 18 with the love of her life. She was all smiles, so happy.
You strike me as a most loving person!
Thx for the lovely post. G.
Isn’t it fun seeing photos of your parents and grandparents when they were young and carefree?? I have a photo of my mom and my aunt, taken when they were about 16, and the look so cool and beautiful, but I can see definite traces of the women they would become.
I have my parents wedding picture on my mantel – they were 20 and 21, and so young and beautiful. Looking at them both I can see myself reflected there.
“And, I hope that, for the rest of my days, I can live out the best part of those who came before me. Because the thing they taught me– the most important thing– is how to love really, really well.”
*swipes tears* A mother’s truest wish. Not just to leave a mark in the world, but in the world that yours revolves around — your child’s. *sniff*