Many moons ago…
This photo was probably the last photo taken with any of my cousins. It was 1987, the year my Papa passed away. He was my paternal grandfather.
I was pregnant with my first child, second from the left. Yeah, that’s me. Young. Thin. The last time I would ever be thin in my life! Even pregnant, I had only gained 27 lbs. total and still looked good. I just wish I would have known that then.
What strikes me about this photo is the fact that everyone is smiling except for me and my sisters…well, maybe there’s a tiny smile there, but not really. I don’t recall, and most likely have blocked it out for good, but I’m sure our lack of enthusiasm had something to do with my mother. Granted, funeral services aren’t supposed to be fun but it was usually my mother who sucked the wind out of our sails, made games UNfun, and mountains out of molehills.
Image Copyright Being Aunt Debbie
Being Aunt Debbie 
Deb…..do we have the same mother? lol
I say that because as your describing this picture I had all kinds of flashbacks about my mom doing the very same thing. In almost every situation, it’s amazing how we remember things like that.
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I have flashbacks daily. Those things do stick with us. I’m 56 years old and I still can’t seem to shake them!
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Yep, my mother is the reason I began counseling. If I hadn’t I might not be talking to her today.
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My mother wasn’t my reason for seeking therapy but in the process of dealing with my immediate sh*t, I was also able to address the problems with my mom. My mom passed away in 1991, so I was never able to mend fences. I was able to say my peace several months before she died so there’s that. It helped.
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I’m sorry about your mom Deb, I’m glad you were able to make peace with her.
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Thanks. ❤
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I was just gonna ask if she was still alive and I read your response to Huntress, my Huntress Darling.
For what it’s worth I’m sorry your Mom was toxic.
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She was toxic but she didn’t mean to be. She had problems of her own that were never resolved. So much history…
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