This is a picture of my great-grandparents and my grandmother, taken around 1914. I love the outfits and it seems so strange to me that Meme (great-grandmother) was wearing a long skirt - I guess I always thought the style was shorter by then. And think how quickly the styles changed from 1914 to even the 50's, only35 years and how many inches of the skirt?
I knew my grandmother and have vague memories of my great-grandmother.
There are no memories of my great grandfather, though. In fact my dad nor his sisters have memories of him either.
The reason is because he disappeared several years after this picture was taken. Headed off to work I guess, and never came home and was never seen again.
But that was the end . . . The beginning started in a cornfield in Kansas. In the late 1800's a local farmer and his wife headed out to their fields. Gypsies had been camped along edge but had broke camp and moved on out. But they forgot somethin, they left behind a baby. That baby was my great-grandfather, taken in by the farmers and raised as their own child.
I often wonder if wonderlust is genetic. Could he no longer fight the urge to travel? Did he not feel like he belonged? Did he have something to hide? Did something unkind happen to him?
I like to think that wonderlust took over and he set out to see the glories of the world around us. Romancing it all, I like thinking I might have Romanian Gypsy blood. Don't get me wrong, life was not the easiest for those he left, and nothing romantic living through the abandonment, but my great-grandmother was resilient and moved forward living a long life. I am proud to have that "I am woman hear me roar" trait in me too.
No, Meme never did hear from him or receive news of him from anyone else. All that remains, to us, is this photo, the story of a cornfield and the still mysterious disappearance - never explained.
20 comments:
That's fabulous and SO interesting. Don't you love old photos and what they still have the ability to tell us!
Thanks for stopping by my blog. I got so excited to have a comment from someone new.
I love romantic (?) family stories. Okay, it probably wasn't romantic for you Meme, but it's an interesting story to pass down.
My husband's grandfather was like that. He lived in the great depression and would go off to "find work" and would be gone for months and then Kathleen would find out he hadn't even left the city, but was hanging around with friends. He would come home, get her pregnant (10 boys all up) then leave again.
Wow!! It must be weird to have that family mystery.
Wow, what an interesting mystery!
What a cool interesting story. TFS the story and the pictures.
Your header is gorgeous!I am blown away! It is nice to meet you:)
This story gave me the goosebumps... what a tragic mystery: It is wonderful that you have this photo of him!
oh...the story is so interesting. And the photo is beautiful and in such great condition for its age.
Family histories are always interesting.
I LOVE old photos and family history. Thanks for sharing.
Wow, your great-grandmother was beautiful.
What a GREAT story and EXCELLENT photo! It IS amazing when you look back and see how far we have really come...especially when you can almost 'touch' the memories of our great grandparents. I knew my grandmother until she died when I was 28 - she was almost 101. To hear the stories she would tell completely amazed me!
Hello,
Thanks for dropping by my blog & leaving a comment. Your picture is wonderful & you are so fortunate to have it. Thanks for sharing the story...interesting but sad & mysterious.
What an intriguing mystery.
Wow, that is an amazing story. She was a beautiful woman. It is a very sad story isn' it.
OHMYGOSH--you totally have to write this story as a novel. You have to.
What a strange beginning and a mysterious end, very sad for your great Grandma to have been left alone though. Beautifully told and a lovely photo to keep. Debs x
I arrived via POTD
Another POTD find. Old photo's always pose questions, and I love them. We all have snippets of info about the people in them but the 'life' is and will always be a mystery.
Gypsy feet will find a way to travel on another day...yes, I'm sure it's genetic, that urge to wander...great post...
Sandi
That must be terrible having no word at all. Hhat an amazing story. A bit sad though.
Congratulations on POTD over at David's.
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