Mandy went with her Mom to visit her Grandma like they always did on Wednesdays.
They would get a cup of tea and a biscuit or slice of fruit cake and Mandy would cuddle her cat on her lap who liked nothing better than to be stroked while Grandma talked.
As usual Grandma would get out her photograph album and talk about the people whose pictures were there that were uncle and aunts, brothers and cousins who Mandy had never known.
“Look Mandy” her Grandma would say “there’s your Grandpa who fought in
the war in his uniform” and then she'd show her lots of other people that were
relatives that were little children her age from long time ago.
On the way home in the car Mandy asked her mother why always they looked
at the old photos of people she didn’t know.
“Haven’t you noticed she looks at you when she show you the pictures,
that’s because she’s looking to see if you share the looks of one of the relatives
because you are that link that is so important for her from the sisters and
cousins of hers that have now died and she'd like to see a part of them in you to
show that the family she knew and loved all those years ago are still alive in you.”
Image found at www.altzheimersblog.org
Seeing the past in the present is a gift
ReplyDeleteIt's also a gift to Mandy that she can't yet understand -- this is her heritage. How i'd love to have such photos, and know the names of the people in them!
ReplyDeleteVery sweet, reminds me of my own Grandmother, she talked and talked about people I didn't know, I only wish I had asked more questions...of course now she is gone...and taken all those people with her. Forever questions without answers....
ReplyDeleteI think we all Cary pieces of our ancestors. Nice write.
ReplyDeleteThis was so close to my heart as it's 27 years ago this very day that my dear Nan died . I remember sitting with her and looking at photos and her telling me stories of all the people in them. I wish I'd listened more attentively. A lovely piece.
ReplyDeletegramswisewords.blogspot.com
This made me nostalgic too, I remember looking at albums with my grandmother and like Maz, I wish I had asked so many more questions. You have it exactly right that we love seeing glimpses of the past in the future generations. This was a sweet story, Old Egg!
ReplyDeleteLittle Mandy brings more joy to her grandmother's heart than she can possibly imagine. If only children didn't have to grow up so quickly!
ReplyDeletevery true, arguably the closest, if not somewhat abstractly, we get to immortality.
ReplyDeleteSweet! Hopefully the names and stories get written down, too, so she can remember them when she's grown.
ReplyDeleteOne day she will look in a mirror,understand and treasure those memories. My Silly Six Sentences!
ReplyDeleteInever knew my grands but treasure all the old photos.
ReplyDeleteThe feelings of old times would certainly be satisfied through uncanny similarities to the young ones! Very true Robin!
ReplyDeleteHank