Vacation Pictures and Grandmothers

Grandmothers and vacation pictures reminds me of a picture that I saw once and really wish I had or at least had a copy of. We went a couple of years ago to spend the day with my Dad's sister Betty she had so many family pictures. There was a picture of my grandmother (Mama Kelley) on vacation. If you are like me you don't think of your grandparents as people going on vacation. My grandparents had families during the depression and didn't have very much money. I guess that is why my grandmother looked so happy, vacations weren't something she had very many of and she really enjoyed this one. She made it through the depression bringing up six children alone after her husband died a vacation must have been a REAL treat to her!



The picture was probably made in the 1950's. My grandmother went to Florida with her two daughters, Betty and Bonnie and their husband's. Aunt Betty said that her mother went in the ocean and enjoyed the beach and water more than she did. The picture was my grandmother on an alligator, not real of course! She was laughing and it just looked like she was having so much fun. Oh! how I wish I had asked Aunt Betty for that picture! She did give me about 10 pictures that day, I didn't want to ask for too much. Aunt Betty gave me some things that belonged to my grandmother. Pictures are such a treasure and there are so many wonderful ways to share pictures. There is no reason to put them in a box and hide them away in a closet.

I knew Aunt Betty was sick, but didn't expect her to die so soon! She didn't have any children and left her house and her sister Bonnie's house to my cousins that lived near. I have asked several times to borrow a few at a time and scan them and give all the cousins a CD of the pictures. It has been a year and a half, doesn't look like I'll ever get the pictures. Her Will said if any of the family wanted anything they could have it but no one has gotten anything. I'm trying to accept this as the way it will be and forget about the pictures. I know that I would love and treasure the pictures I just hope they will take care of them. Many times people inherit pictures and they end up in yard sales.