Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Today She Would Have Been 94

My mom is the little girl standing. I'm not sure who her friend is. This was taken around 1921 by her mother. I've used versions of this photo in two pieces of art, so far.

Today, August 7th, would have been my mom's 94th birthday. She was quite a woman, not marrying until 32, not having me until she was almost 40, and was a life-long caregiver, professionally as a nurse, and in "regular" life, too. She was the person everyone that knew her called for support. There was a time I brought her home from her elderly cousin's house after taking care of her all day. She reached into her pocket and realized she still had Minnie's dentures in her pocket. She reached into her other pocket and found a pacifier from the little 2 year girl she nannied in the mornings. She could take care of an 82 year old and a 2 year old on the same day and still have time to make sure I was fine. Happy Birthday, Mom!

My mother, probably around 1920-21, sitting on the hood of her mother's Ford Model T. I've used this photo in a piece of art called, "Nita's Little Hood Ornament."

Mom, 1939, way before marriage and children sapped the life out of her, lol.

A few years later, mid1940s. I like this photo because her eyes look more like they actually did—they were very pale blue. The 1939 photo's lighting makes them appear to be brown. Her pale eyes were very striking with her black hair and almost-olive skin. 

Another 2-3 years, later 1947. Kodachrome really suited her!

12 comments:

  1. Are you fixing a special dinner for tonight? Nice birthday tribute, Casey. I will lift a glass and offer birthday wishes as well.

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    1. I am! You know me well, my friend! Thank you in advance for the good wishes, too.

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  2. She has a very smart look about her, Casey, especially in the last photo. Must have been quite a woman! No wonder you are proud of her! Enjoy your special dinner tonight. Happy birthday to your mom!

    Katie

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    1. Hi Katie! Thanks! I hope your summer is going well!

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  3. Happy Birthday Mom!
    I look at your photo everyday - your son is quite the artist you know!

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    1. Hey PX. Thanks! I'm sure she loves hanging in your home. It's so cool for me to think of her like that. Hope everything is well with you!

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  4. I had a conversation with my neighbor who used to own Eyelore, a cosmetic company bought by Revlon. He had just turned 90 years old with all his mental facilities still intact, he was able to tell me about the early days of the twentieth century in probably the same amount of detail as your mother. He was stationed in London during WW2 and recalls when the bomb dropped on Hiroshima and what he was doing that day…amazing.

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    1. I was always so interested in listening to my parents and my grandmother talk about the "old days." I couldn't get enough and really tried to remember everything they said. I wish my Dad had talked more about the war, but those guys just didn't and he died at 64 so I wasn't really ever able to get him to open up about what he experienced.

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  5. MOTHERS OF YESTERDAY WERE JUST WELL YOU KNOW. IT'S WONDERFUL THAT YOUR CELEBRATING HER LIFE TODAY BUT WHY WOULDN'T YOU BE, YOUR JUST THAT SPECIAL AND NEVER FORGET THAT I SAID IT. I ALWAY SEE THE LOVE YOU HAD FOR HER AND YOUR AUNT. HOW LUCKY TO HAVE A SON LIKE YOU. FEEL HER WARMTH BECAUSE I BELIEVE THEY NEVER LEAVE US. A GRANNY HUG TO MY PAL.

    THANKS FOR SHARING THE ABOVE. SHE WAS ONE PRETTY LADY.

    GRANNY

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  6. CASEY, I'M SURE I'D BE PROUD TO HAVE YOUR MOM AND YOUR AUNT AS A FRIEND.I'M VERY EASY TO GET ALONG WITH. I LIKE GENTLE TYPE PEOPLE THAT HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR. I THINK THEY FIT THE MODE. I DON'T LIKE PEOPLE THAT HURT OTHERS. I JUST WALK AWAY. IT'S LUNCH TIME. I WONDER WHAT I'LL FIX. LET ME SIT AND THINK ABOUT IT.

    THANKS FOR THE REPLY.

    GRANNY

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