Monday 25 January 2010

Wedding Day!!

This is probably one of my very favorite pictures. Must have been taken in about 1940. The picture is of my "Morfar" (grandfather, mothers father), My mom and my dad. This was on their wedding day. I found this picture in a photo album on or about June 19th, 2003, 63 years after it was taken. I was sitting at the table eating breakfast and looking at old photo albums that someone had dropped off. Not a real unique story until you realize that I was across the Atlantic, sitting in a home just a couple of miles from the homestead of my grandfather in Sweden.

I stopped eating, stared at the picture and realized, from other photo's who these people were. I was speechless. After looking at other pictures, I found over 20 pictures of family back in "America" that my grandfather had sent to his sister in Sweden.
I got permission to scan the photos and emailed them back to my computer in moments.

As you reflect on this story, several things should be going through your minds. How technology has changed, memories of loved ones, family ties, all kinds of thoughts. I sat there all teared up. What upset me the most is that six months before finding this photo, mom had died. Dad had died in 1980 and grandpa just a couple of years after this photo was taken. Oh how I wish I could have shared with mom what I had found.

Families are special. Our histories are amazing. You will find fun memories, heartaches and hard work. Whatever you find - build on it. Try to keep your roots in tact.

23 comments:

Devoted said...

Amazing! The world has become such a small place... :-D

Indian Lake Papa said...

Devoted - It is one amazing story!! We have become very close family after being separated over 110 years!! Very close!!

Ed said...

Papa, you are right its the roots of our past that we use to build the future on.

I did not have a happy family environment, but that past is responsible for leading my to the life I now enjoy.

Indian Lake Papa said...

Ed, making good choices in spite of difficult times is true wisdom Ed. Last year was a great year wasn't it!!

CrossView said...

What a great stumble-on find! I love so much about modern technology. And scanning and saving that picture from the original photo is one example of why.... ;o)

Indian Lake Papa said...

Crossview - It was a great find! My brother was there at the time as well. He did not recognize anyone in the picture - I had other pictures of each of them and got very excited.

Peter Olson said...

I would like to find a picture of Kim's parents on their wedding day. They said that there were no pictures taken of them that day, but I'm still hoping to find one. It will be fifty years on August 26.
My aunt and uncle will be married fifty years this Saturday.
It is very good to have so many examples of marriages that last a lifetime.
Next year Kim will need a sympathy card, she turns fifty and we will be married twenty five years. ;-)

Indian Lake Papa said...

Peter - several places to look for pictures - grandparents albums, and or brother and sister old photo albums. Kim does not need a card - she needs two cards!!

Carol said...

I noticed right off how pretty your mother was. So...did you take after your Dad? Grin... (are you still my friend?)

Indian Lake Papa said...

Hey !! Ha! Carol, I am not sure - but both my mom and dad had sharp tongues with good wit - so watch out! I can hold my own!! Ha!

Bernard Shuford said...

I LOVE old pictures.

Indian Lake Papa said...

Now Bernard, is that "old pictures" or pictures of "old" people! LOL I can give you both !! HA !

Bernard Shuford said...

I'll take either one :)

Indian Lake Papa said...

LOL Bernard ! Glad you stop by my blog - I tried to find your web page, no luck.

Bernard Shuford said...

Hey, Papa, I see you found my site now, but what exactly was the trouble? Slow to load, or an error page, or what? Thanks for being persistent :)

Indian Lake Papa said...

I got an error msg and a blank page last night - no problem today. Now I have it on my blog roll and seems fine.

Life Adapted said...

Papa, I love old photos and they are even better if they're old photos of old people :)

I have been thinking of posting a photo and story of me and my grandmothers - you have inspired me!

Be blessed!

Indian Lake Papa said...

LA - Curious, did your grandma's have big noses and mustaches like you ?? LOL !!

I love the old pictures! They are special.

Life Adapted said...

Papa, only the Italian one!

Indian Lake Papa said...

LA - heh heh - oh the memories - some old - some not so old!

Parsley said...

Just wanted to say hello. I hope you are having a great day.

Anonymous said...

Papa, as you know, my Uncle Tom has recently stumbled upon MANY old photos and so much family history...back to 1765 so far! It makes me feel like I just found out there's actually 5 more planets in my solar system or something! lol! It's so wonderful! Especially seeing people from the 1800's that my own children look like!

Indian Lake Papa said...

Parsley - thanks for stopping by! Hope all is well with you!

Hi Kelly - I have parts of my family history back to 1600's. I found a couple of relatives via internet that had been doing this for 30 years - my tree expanded overnight!