Circa. 1920

"Gertrude Monroe Circa ; 1920" is written on the back of this family photo.  We knew her as "Mam maw". 

She was born August 11, 1904, and she would be around 16 years of age when this picture was taken.  I have never thought of Mam maw as ever being a teenager until this picture crossed my path this morning.  Flipping through a stack of family pictures, this one caught my attention.  Mam maw as a teenager!  What a deal.  She certainly looks like she is ready to go to where ever life was to lead.  Maybe it was one of those first dates with Pap paw.  Hair fixed, purse in hand, and a hat of some sort that helped block the sun from the eyes.  I am ready to go...she seems to be saying.   There is a lot of life yet to live.   She certainly did.

She died March 17, 1989 at the age of 84 years.  She introduced me to cinnamon toast, coffee, and a great number of family stories that remain alive in my heart.  Thanks Gertrude Monroe Circa. 1920...it good to see your as a teenager.  Your coffee cup sits on my mantel as I write... still dancing with your stories.

The Eyes Have It

Here she is, in living color.  Taken around 1890, this photo is unique among the many, many, family pictures that have been captured  among my ancestors.  It is the only color picture taken during this time period that seems to have survived.

 Her name is Lillie Henderson, and she was the older step sister to my maternal great grandmother Ellen Dorcas Henderson.  Not much is recorded of her life among the family records.  Her mother's name is not even recorded, but her father was Abraham B. Henderson (nickname Sonny) who by a first marriage had two children.  She is recorded to have died around the age of 16 years.

Red hair, blue eyes, and  a determined look, fills the camera.  There is a certain sadness about her... shoulders straight, hair perfectly combed, blue dress and a red bow that surrounds a high necked, laced collar.  But it is the eyes that captured my heart.

Some say that the eyes are the windows of the soul.  In this photograph of a long forgotten ancestor, the eyes have it.

Happy Birthday Mom

On the 18th of April, 1930, my Mom was born.  Her family had moved from Kentucky to Indiana trying to find work at the period of our history called "The Great Depression".  Being in the middle of 12 children born to this Ewen family, she would have to make her own way among the four brothers and four sisters. [two sisters had died earlier]

Myrna Jean Ewen was the name given.  Myrna being an unusual family name, most in the family just called her "Jeanie".  Here is her sixteenth year picture just after the family had moved from Slate, KY to my birthplace called Winchester, KY.

School days 1946 - 47 it reads.  She was about to meet my Dad around this time and start that relationship that was to make our family.

Some two years later, she appears as Myrna Jean Jones in this photograph below, which was taken the second day of her married life.

May 9th, 1948 it would be.  That "just married" look is evident.

Happy Birthday Mom!  Thanks for your life, and giving our family such love.
Your heart pumps in my chest, and your gift of love will echo through our family for generations.

It's About Time

What time is it?

 Some say "a time for every purpose under heaven".

Wait a minute, you mean all the time, part time, or just any time?

Well I guess over time it would be every time, thus timeless.

Wow, time after time...a never ending story.  But, what about "once upon a time"?

That's certainly time-honored, however you would need a time-keeper, and we need to let the good times roll...certainly time-consuming...not sure enough hours in the day.

Wait a second, who's the timer anyway?  Wouldn't they need a time sheet, with a time-piece, and a time-line to keep things straight?  And at the same time, they would need a time-table, time zone, and maybe even a time-capsule? It would certainly take the summer time, and this is when the living is easy.

One more time, "a time for every purpose under heaven".

Time out!  Time out!  This is getting time-worn...and not sure it can be time-tested.  Anyway, times up and I will need more time.  Maybe even some time travel.

Well, it's about time!

Catch Me...If You Can...

Playing "tag" always involved several folks.  At least three or more would be necessary to make it exciting.  Of course "hide and seek" could be played with two, but in "tag" chasing the same person around got less interesting as you came to recognize all the other's moves.

Now on a summer day, being alone would make it much more difficult to play any of the above.  The following picture shows my Dad on such an occasion.

 June 10, 1929...3 yrs...Henry Edward Jones...is written on the back.  It must have been high noon since the shadow is perpendicular.  The yard is grassy, with bushes, trees, and shade...even some possible hiding places.  A man in the background is oblivious to this picture taking as he crosses the street.  Anyhow, take this picture if you must.   Then lets play...catch me...if you can.

Explorare!

Exploration has been part of man since the beginning of time.  As a matter of fact, the word "explore" comes from explorare which is French ex + plorare meaning to cry out.  It seems that was the action taken by hunters on sighting game, which was the yell (outcry) to let others in the hunt know that food was finally in sight.  Can you image, all those empty stomachs, hunting for days, following all those tracts, and finally seeing some food!  "Explorare"  would certainly seem appropriate.

The following picture is my older brother [ in his youngest days] being in exploration mode. 

Let's see...nothing down that side of the shed...although it did look a bit shaky.   Good thing the grass was not any taller because I might of had some problems with navigation.    But hey, I have made it this far, and there is still a smile on the face.  I am sure there are some falls yet to come, but so far so good.   I must go on... it is part of that human gene you know.  Wonder if there is any game around this corner.  Only one way to find out...explorare!

Four Generations Side by Side

A few days ago, I noticed these pictures my wife had placed on some of our kitchen cabinets.  They were positioned  pretty much as shown, the black and white on top, and the color picture below.  Four generations I thought.    Looking carefully, I saw myself in both pictures.  About the same age [when the pictures were taken], about the same position [the right hand side], the same round head, the same eyes and nose,  is my youngest grandson Ian. 

The upper picture was taken in the 1950s.  The lower picture was taken not so long ago.  My family and me, and my youngest daughter Ellen and her family, are shown some 50 years apart.  The smiles look much the same.  Four generations on film side by side, how about that.