I was fortunate enough to have both sets of grandparents, and three great-grandparents still alive when I was born. We’ve taken lots of “generational” pictures over the years to capture these special moments of all having one another this side of heaven.
When a baby is born, the most common thing for people to determine is who the baby resembles. I love my dad’s default response for Ellie. People would say, “She looks like Ben,” or “She looks like Hannah,” but my dad would say, “She looks like Ellie to me.
When I was born, my great-grandfather, Pa, would always say, “She looks just like Nadine’s (my great-grandmother) Mother.” He said we shared the same eyes and Native American features.
I loved when he would tell me that. He would tell me stories of her and about her culture. He and Granny both encouraged me to embrace our Native American background because it was important to her. I loved participating in Indian Education programs at school and attending the festivals throughout the community. My dad even bought me some moccasins when I was younger. And I can’t begin to tell you how many dream catchers I had growing up. I always wanted to meet this lady who shared my features. Today, while hanging out with Momma Kay, I got the opportunity to look through old pictures. And there she was. My great-great grandmother. Florence.
Isn’t she beautiful? I do see my reflection in her deep blue eyes and in her salt and pepper thick hair…but I’m not seeing much else lol. She looks STRIKINGLY similar to her daughter, my Granny.
I admired my Granny so much when she was here. I still admire her daily even though she’s not. Her light shown bright enough to encourage our whole family. I wonder if that spark started by her mom, Florence? Granny was one of twelve. Here’s a picture of Dowdy, Florence and nine of their kids: my aunts and uncles.
Twelve kids?! No wonder they look so tired. 😂 But as a couple, they were happy. Happy til the end.
I hate that term: “the end.” I looked at a table full of memories in photographic form. My heart hurt seeing people I would not get to see for a while. But, in the same moment, I saw memories of some fantastic times I had with those incredible people.
“Who is that?” Ellie said quietly behind me.
“That is your great-great-great grandparents.” Her jaw dropped.
“That’s my grandma and grandpa,” Mama Kay said.
“I like her dress,” Ellie smiled.
“She wore that dress when she would cook after a day of picking in the fields…..” the stories continued down to a new generation.
I love the movie Coco. Two quotes from the movie summed up my day:
“Our memories, they have to be passed down by those who knew us in life-in the stories they tell about us…”
“For even if I’m far away, I hold you in my heart/ I sing a secret song to you, each night that we’re apart.”
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