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The Picture
By Mona Lease
Hi, all!! The niece looked at her picture many times over the years.
The picture was her Aunt - who was taken in a fatal car crash as many
years ago as the niece was old. The niece wondered about the crooked
smile - and a certain look in the Aunt's eyes - some sort of inner
knowledge - maybe.
Mystery had always surrounded her death. When people spoke - it was
with hushed tones - and never much being said. The niece carried a
picture of the Aunt - a high school picture - her graduation picture.
What little had been told of the Aunt had let the niece know that her
Aunt was a rarity - no dirty jokes - no cussing - and the like.
Some fifty years passed before people - mainly family - spoke more of
the Aunt....little bits here and there. The Aunt had a good job in her
hometown.....the Aunt wanted more. She got a job in a larger city -
more money - better opportunities.
Then the story of a would-be boyfriend appeared. He made good money in
his own right. He had a good home - a good reputation - good friends -
good connections. The niece wondered why her Aunt never married the guy
- he had made is intentions clear to her. The family spoke of that,
too. "Why would you say no to the boyfriend?", the niece wondered. He
was good looking and had a nice car. The niece had seen those pictures,
too.
More time passed. And one day the key (as it were) to the whole story
appeared. In an off-hand conversation to which the niece was listening,
it was revealed that the Aunt had "other things" to do.
"It was the '50s. Home and family were the norm - everything, you might
say. You earned your high school diploma, found a girlfriend or
boyfriend, married and "set up housekeeping." Words like toilet paper
were not spoken in mixed company (men and women). And any conversation
having to do with sex and/or pregnancy - in any setting other than a
private one.... was regarded as strictly "taboo." In this societal age
- you did not get drunk (or prescription meds), lose control of
yourself mentally or physically, and hurt someone - not even with your
words. You did not intentionally take advantage of another person (or
any company, business, etc)." - went through the niece's mind.
What would make a woman see a larger picture here - maybe the "big
picture?" - is what I wonder. I wonder what would spur a young
girl just out of high school a couple of years - to seek more out of
life - her life. I wonder if she set a goal here - and kept the goal
ever-present in her mind....did she remind herself daily where she was
heading - where she wanted to be - how she wanted her life, her car,
her clothes, her house to look? Did she know that cars will rust...that
looks will fade?
And I really wonder if this is the "legacy" stuff of which I've heard
and read. In the above example - true story, by the way - the Aunt
looked past a lot of things that would profess that she had "made it.'
And I just have to ask myself: Is this how we "negotiate" our lives? We
see a "larger picture", keep it in mind, and ignore the shiny trinkets.
Remember the kiddies and our service people. Take good care of the
furry and feathered ones out there. Be safe and healthy. See ya next
time. Ever Toodles!! MONA
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