I had a nice surprise in my mailbox today. My niece sent me a package of old photos that she found while helping her parents move. It was a treasure trove of memories for me.

This is my grandmother, Opal. I think the baby she is holding is my cousin, Lisa. I never knew either of them very well. They both lived in Nebraska and my family lived in Connecticut. Vacations were rare for my family so we didn’t get to see the relatives very much. Sadly, I grew up not knowing what a wonderful and loving grandmother I had. I didn’t understand that the cookie jar always being full of special cookies when we arrived was a sign of her love for us. I know that now. I miss her.

This is my grandfather, Russell. Grandpa was a grumpy old man. I think I only saw him smile one time in my life. He looks so happy in this photo. I wish I knew this man. I wish he had smiled more often.

This is my other grandpa, Archie. I can’t think of my grandpa without remembering the smell of his pipe tobacco. I always liked the smell. I always liked my grandpa. I wonder if that had anything to do with the fact that he always gave me a Maple Nut Goodie when I came to visit or because he always entertained me by peeling his oranges in one long spiraling peel.

This is a photo of me with my two sisters and my cousin, Gail, in 1965. My grandparents came to visit and brought her along for the trip. I’m the one on the left. Notice how my older sister and I are wearing identical dresses? My mother had a thing about that. I think she wanted twins. Sometimes she would dress all three of us in identical outfits like a mismatched set of triplets. She never got her twins but she did get two daughters born on the same date, just two years apart.

This last picture is a photo of me with my husband and our first born. Oh my gosh, who are those young people! They look far too young to be having a baby of their own. Geeze, I thought I was so grown up then but now that I am closer to 50 than 49 I look back and see things so differently.

Kira, thanks for sending the photos. Next time try to pack yourself into the envelope. I’d like to see you again too!