Carmi's Challenge this week is "Family". You can find him at http://writteninc.blogspot.com/search/label/Thematic%20Photographic. No matter how hard I try I can't get the link to appear in my post. In the preview, yes, in the post, no! Never had this trouble before!
The photograph I have chosen is not one of mine. In fact, that is me, aged about 3, watching my Grandfather making a rabbit out of a (clean) handkerchief! It was taken by my father, who was a very fine amateur photographer, and who won several prizes and competitions.
I never knew this Grandfather very well. He was born in 1868 and was a man who managed quite well without company or socialising, and who had strong likes and dislikes. He was in service, as a valet, to one of the King's Equerries, and travelled all over the world with the Royal family. I'm sure he could have told us a lot about his travels, but I at least, never liked to ask!
Carmi's challenge made me think a lot about our family. There is so much I wished I had asked my own mother and father about their family history. And now I am the senior family member my daughter urges me to write all my memories down! I have started, but there is so much - once I think of one thing, then it leads to another, and another and another, and the memories become random and unreadable!
But I am trying. I don't know if my grandsons and their families will be interested, but it will soon be ancient history!
5 comments:
You should write it down Gilly - Don't let it get lost. I love the photo - and i can make those rabbits!!! xxxx
You stories don't have to be in order, Gilly. Just start a new page with each one and if you think of something to add to a previous, then go back to that page. That randomness might be found endearing by your grandchildren!
I love the photograph. What a wonderfully rich history! Do you have any stories from your grandfather's being in service?
Despite the fact that you remember he didn't like company - he sure seemed to enjoy your company in this photo!
I'd love to read your stories - please do write them down!
What a powerful picture, Gilly. I got goosebumps when I first saw it, then again when I read your words. One phrase, in particular, hit me hard:
"There is so much I wished I had asked my own mother and father about their family history."
I've felt the same thing for years, since my father first became ill. I worried what would be lost if we lost him. So I began to ask questions about our family. We visited the cemetery, we dug through shoeboxes of pictures. And I took pictures of my own and captured his stories with my pen.
Now that he's gone, I derive some comfort from the fact that we were able to do this. Thank you so much for validating why those generational connections are so treasured.
This picture deserves to be framed and placed in a position of prominence.
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