You know, I have enjoyed PBF for quite awhile. It is actually one of the final deciding factors in my choice to join the blog universe. I have many photo strips that I began collecting when PickleBoy was little. They all look essentially the same although he is just a little older each time.

I've been a bit envious of the others who have old photobooth pictures from members of their own family throughout history. I had just resigned myself to having recent memories to pull from and then...

...on Easter Sunday, my aunt (father's sister) pulled out a little satin pouch full of little mementos that her grandmother gave to her before her passing (when I was only 3 months old). Can you imagine my face when this tiny single photo fell out onto the table? I just looked at my Sister and mouthed the word "MINE". She smiled knowingly and nodded her head. See, except for Sis, PickleBoy and eldest nephew Big G, no one in the family has a clue that I have created this old blog-o-mine. They know nothing of photo booth Fridays. Fate I say.

So who are these people? This is a photobooth picture of my grandfather as a boy (the same age as PickleBoy is now) with his grandmother. Nothing is written on the back...we know not when or where this was taken...my sister and I have never even seen a picture of this great great grandmother Evans of ours. My estimate is that it was taken around 1925. This side of the family is where the Welsh and Swedish comes down the tree via Swedesburg, Iowa. She was probably visiting her daughter's family in Southern California at the time. We are the only branch of the tree to have landed in California (PickleBoy is 4th generation Californian although he is half Australian, too).

I love how beautiful and happy my grandfather seems here. You see, he was an only child who subsisted on pure adoration which later evolved into fame. So far, the only 'star' in the family but he came from an era that did not prepare him for the inevitable time when the fame fades into the ethers. He did not transition well. I only knew him in his later years but heard regularly just how golden he used to be.

Having this photo come to me feels fortuitous in more than one way. For the blog, yes, but it has also reminded me to continue finding a way to keep the sparkle and shine in my eyes and, more importantly, my life.

I wish you all a sparkly and shiny weekend and life, too.

(more PBF love here)