I look at myself in this photo and wish the adult me could be standing just out of camera range observing the girl that I was. The shadows cast by my parents across that lawn stretch across the years into my life today, a portent of the unhappiness that would darken their marriage and cast a chill on my growing-up years. And now there is no one left who can tell me stories about myself before that. My mother is gone, and my father is almost a stranger–a kindly older gentleman who likes to pretend he wasn’t absent from my life for decades. When this photo was taken, they had no idea of what lay ahead of them. Their real life together was just beginning after my father’s years away during the war. Maybe this was our last happy time together, but on my birthday, I’m just grateful they gave me life. And a sense of style–look how I’m rocking that beret!
happy birthday!
Nikki….Happy Birthday! And, you do “Rock” as people younger than tend to say. Mine is coming up on the 18th….and I’m dreadfully afraid of water, so your previous post was very meaningful to me….I love LOOKING at the water…just can’t get on it or in it….this after crossing both the Atlantic and Pacific on ships while I was a young Army brat. You have a great weekend! Pat
Celebrate the life you have.
Both my parents died the same year, within weeks of each other, when I was 30. My birthday is the day I grieve that loss the most.
Happy Birthday. I’ll bet you’re not the only one who is happy that your parents had you. 🙂
Happy belated birthday! Hope you had a good one. Love the posts where you share old photos. I need to get a scanner…