Thursday, December 14, 2006

Christmas Past

... the way we were about twenty years ago


Old Christmas Portrait

That's our family during one Christmas in the mid-eighties. Of course, Cuppa's parents were still with us, but we always made the pilgrimage to Toronto to visit her tribe on Boxing Day or shortly after.


When I asked Cuppa where mid-eighties photos might be last night, she escorted me to the basement and found the appropriate box within minutes. She's amazing at finding things — inside the house at any rate although something fundamentally shifts the second that she steps outside. I had wanted a photo of that red vest sweater that I mentioned yesterday. While it's only partly revealed, the picture serves the purpose, I think. So, that's my semi-dressy-garb of that period. I say semi because I still wore jacket and tie to church although that was the approximate time period of our ceasing to attend that institution.


Taken via a timer with the camera set on the piano, it's not a technically sound photo by any means, but it's still a wonderful keeper in my books. I wasn't able to make great strides in Photoshop with this one (it happens that way sometimes), but it's the way we were, and I think it has value and character.


Christmasses keep rolling on by faster and faster. Life has changed. We're all older and living in different places. The grands have left us and partners have joined the girls ... and little Smudge is on the way. Now there's a change that I am really looking forward to.


But I still gaze back wistfully and fondly and sometimes find myself becoming a teensy bit sappish over my comtemplations.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love the photo. It looks like a very happy time.
For whatever reason, perhaps it is its proximity to the New Year, Christmas often seems to be a time of reflection. A time to remember Christmases of the past and to wonder about the Christmases of our future. Just today I came across a lovely quote on Christmas.

"What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace." ~ Agnes M. Pharo

Gina said...

It's easy to get caught up in the past, isn't it? My mom and I had been looking through old photos of my Dad for his 60th birthday, and it took twice as long as necessary because we kept discussing every picture!

Ginnie said...

What a nice picture, AC. I agree that it can be very poignant to look back like that...but that's what memories are I guess.
Once again you've piqued my memory and I will blog about my Christmas Eve in 1988...not good but a time I never want to forget. ("Details at 11")

Anonymous said...

Christmas truely is a time of reflection and nostalgia, although any time I look through my pictures, which I love to do, I turn into mush. It's a great picture.

Anonymous said...

What a great picture!

Debra said...

Such a lovely photo... Your love for each other comes through and reaches through the computer screen and through the years. Thanks for your comment about my aunt this morning at my blog... It's been a rather rough day for me and I've appreciated hearing from my friends. Blessings, Debra

Anonymous said...

I love the photos you have been posting recently. Such a blast from the past and so heart warming. I am still crossing my fingers (and toes--ouch) that Santa brings me a scanner for Christmas.

Holiday hugs,
Laurie

Cathy said...

Gee that's sweet AC. Very tender. I'm afraid Christmases become more challenging for me every year. I'll bet it helps to have little smudge brightening the future.
OH! Look north tonight - my son let me know there's a geomagnetic storm going on and I crossed into farm land in Michigan and saw some very nice aurora borealis.

Leann said...

very nice looking family.wasn,t able to be on the blogs lately.been sooo busy.loved all the pic,s.the older ones are so cool.love yur blog anyway its sooo colorful.

mreddie said...

Good photo - this is a good time of the year to look back at who and what we were like way back when. I do remember the polyester suits and the big wide ties. ec

PBS said...

That's a wonderful and heart-warming photo. So appropriate for the season. The red vest looks pretty good, too!

methatiam said...

This is the season for the sap to flow. I too have been looking up old photos.

Anonymous said...

Nice looking family. I may post some of my older ones. I get nostalgic this time of the year.