Have y’all ever seen the piles of “Lost Ancestors” down at the antique store? Sure you have. There is always a pile of pictures. Photographs of people who never seem to smile. You would think we are descended from a bunch of unhappy people, but I think they just held stern expressions because that’s easier than holding a smile while you are waiting for the photograph to take. I’m told they had to “freeze” for several seconds back then.
Sifting through those photographs is as painful as going to the animal shelter to adopt pet. It’s so heartwrenching! Do you know how you go down there expecting to adopt one pet and come home with three because you loved them all? I’m that way about our Lost Ancestors.
I’m haunted by their faces staring at me. Who were they? What kind of lives did they lead? What were their names? No one will ever know, because at the time those pictures were taken, no one thought to write a name on the photograph. Those pictures probably sat in a drawer for a couple of generations, until no one was alive who recognized them, and then they got tossed away.
Let that be a lesson to you! Go through your pictures and put names on them while you remember. Otherwise, a couple of generations from now your nameless face might be staring up from a pile in an antique store!
You might not get as lucky as this woman. I saw her face and loved her. I don’t know who this woman is. She isn’t a member of my family; at least she wasn’t until I “adopted” her. I liked her attitude. Though she wears that somber expression, I perceive a little bit of playfulness in her stance. I’ve given her pride of place in my boudoir.
You need to adopt your own ancestor! The next time you are browsing at the antique mini-mall, go through those stacks of pictures and see if one of them calls to you. You can adopt that ancestor and bring them home. It’s the least you can do.
I adopted her but, she doesn’t have a name! That’s just not right. She deserves at least a name.
I need your help. What would you name her?
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{ 15 comments }
What a lovely ancestor to have adopted!
A name. Hmmm. I suck at names–hence why this child has yet to be named, even though she’ll be born in about nine and a half hours!
For some reason, I’m feeling Shirley for your adopted ancestor. But I can’t explain why! It seems sensical with a bit of sass, maybe. Something that fit the generation, too.
Ambers last blog post..Delivery Watch, 2008
She is lovely, isn’t she? And, you’d better hurry up with that name! Shirley? Hmmm. let me think on it.
I think she looks like a “Penelope.”
That could work…let me see…
She is very pretty, so I’ll suggest the name Catherine. I love old pictures like this. I even have a couple hanging in my aparment… well except the ones I have are real relatives – with NAMES on the back!! I love the idea you have of adopting ancestors, but I worry that if I did, in a few generations my relatives won’t know the difference between the real pictures and the “adopted” ones.
Friggas last blog post..What’s In Your Purse?
As for your “adopted ancestors,” write those two words on the back of the photo, so your family will know. I like the old pic, too, obviously. Catherine? I’ll ponder it.
My vote goes to Greta von Bauhaus. Occupation: Seductress with a heart of gold.
Actually, I love looking at those pictures too. There’s a greeting card line that takes these kinds of pictures and adds funny captions to them. Wish I could remember what they’re called.
I’ve seen that greeting card line. It’s a good one. Greta von Bauhaus! I’m liking that. It sounds like a good 1920s name…if you are a Baroness or something. Maybe she was a Baroness?
Congratulations on your adoption. She is fabulous. I like Greta… a Baroness, I don’t know about that. How about Greta Myers.
Perhaps she is Greta Myers but wants to be Baroness von Bauhaus?
She looks like a Susan to me. Very independent woman.
I never browse antique stores because I can’t afford to buy anything, but this post makes me want to.
marilyns last blog post..Economics?
She does look like an independent woman. Susan? hmmm. As for browsing antique stores, just leave your credit cards at home
To me she looks more like an Eleanor or a Josephine, but I could be persuaded towards Greta. I’d originally thought Ruby, but every time I did I got an image of a rotund and somewhat bossy white rabbit (of Max and Ruby fame).
Robins last blog post..TT – 13 things I could have bought instead of a new washing machine
Ruby might have worked for her…I don’t know the white rabbit of the name
I like Baroness von Brauhaus want-a-be. It would be interesting to see what the her future Baron looks like.
I’ve seen his picture, and didn’t adopt him. I wouldn’t want him “looking at me” from the wall as I dress
I love old photos…even ones with no names. (actually, I fail in that department, putting names/dates on pix
maybeprobably not this winter!)I like Roberta…
And I love your blog!
Barbs last blog post..I Traveled to Jordan Today..
After going through my grandmother’s photos and discovering she couldn’t remember the names of friends from long ago, I got more adamant about putting names on pictures of my own!
This post really struck a cord with me. It has always bothered me to see old photographs at antique shops; it was as if these were now people without a home, people dis-inherited after the fact. At one particular shop, I’d finally broken down and was preparing to purchase a large number of these photos (literally every photo I’d found) because I just couldn’t bear the thought. Then, my husband spotted me and, bottom line, reason prevailed over emotion. There was no way: I could “take in” everyone’s lost ancestors! So, I LOVE your advice! Let’s take the time now to preserve those ties!
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I feel the same way about them when I see them, Brenda. I can’t throw away ones in my family with no name (one Mamaw had), even though I have no clue to their identity. Yep. We have to get names on them. Harder to do now that we take so many digital pictures, isn’t it?
She looks like a Madeline to me.
That would have been a good one…but she became Greta Myers (who wanted to be a duchess and called herself von Bau Haus)
What an amazing post! Thanks to StumbleUpon for sending me here! I do like Penelope for your adoptee and, yes, I feel the same way when looking at those pictures in the antique stores/flea markets. Thank you for sharing this.
It’s easy to fall in love with the faces in those old pictures, isn’t it Kimberly? They all have their stories. Thanks for stopping in to visit.
I think her name is Ophelia. (O-feel-ya) (:
snicker
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