Photographs and memories

Over the weekend, I came across some family photos that went back at least four generations.

Sadly the photos were not marked as to who they were or from what year. I wished they had; I wanted to know the story of each of the people that had taken the time to have their picture taken, marking perhaps a special occasion or perhaps just because.

I recall seeing this box of photos years ago at my dad's house. One of his great-uncles had the box of photos and when he died, it came to my dad. We looked through the box back then, curious about these same people but just set it aside.

One photo that has had me wondering all weekend was that of a young boy, sitting in a fancy chair and dressed in his best clothes, one foot on the floor the other gone. There was a stump just below his knee. He appeared sad.

Further down in the pile I saw another photo, I am assuming, the same boy, grown some and with a smile on his face. He was standing in this photo, wearing knickers and supported by one leg and a wooden leg. Good for him!

There were several wedding photos, women wearing those big, bulky dresses, men with there slicked back hair. And closer up wedding photos where it is difficult to tell which is the man, which is the women. The women were tough looking back then, living in a world that had little conveniences.

And the men - most had thick moustaches, giving some of them the appearance of walruses!

And I wonder, what do I do with all these photos - there is no one now that can tell me who any of the people are. Any suggestions?

I couldn't help but laugh thinking about the many photos I have in bags and boxes, not marked on the backs because "I will remember this occasion forever the ever." Someday all of my photos will probably be picked up by someone, too, questioning who is in them and definitely will laugh at the "crazy" clothes and hair styles we have!

Really, I should go back now and write on the backs of all my photos and even go another step further and get them all in photo albums. My husband has been trying to get me to do that for years; in fact, one year, he bought me new photo albums for every occasion - my birthday, Mother's Day, Christmas, Groundhog's Day - thinking maybe I would get the hint. I have been too busy working and raising kids to take time to put photos in photo albums. I've thought of paying someone to do that for me or a good hobby once I'm retired at age 85.