Do you ever wonder what your ancestors were like? What did they do for a living? Did they ever fall in love? Have their heart broken? Dream big dreams? You know, the people who lived 100, 200+ years ago, that you never had the opportunity to meet but who you inherited your blue eyes from and your proclivity to be a night owl, love sweets, be a procrastinator, or have a Type “A” personality. The generations before you, that, though you don’t really “know” them are essentially a part of you and you them…..their blood flows in your veins and you are living proof that they too, lived once. Were young once. Loved and were loved once. Though they lived generations ago, in a different time and perhaps even a different place, we still share the same feelings, emotions and all the commonalities that make us human and feed our desire to belong, to love, and be cherished and remembered.
I have always been fascinated with the idea that I am a product of many generations and I have many times dreamed of what that long, long line of people were like that make up my family tree. Did my penchant for baking come from my Grandpa Bud’s family, immigrants from Germany who established one of the biggest bakeries in Chicago, back in the day? Do I love the wild, wind-swept prairies of Wyoming because I am a descendant of American-Indians? Did I inherit my fair skin, red hair and love for all things Irish from the Irish roots that run on both sides of my family tree?
On this Memorial Day I have especially enjoyed thinking about my roots and the generations of people who lived before me. Below is a compilation of photos that are special to me and that remind me of events and people I don’t want to ever forget.
My Grandpa Bud and Grandma Betty were my Dad’s father and mother. Grandpa Bud passed away when I was four but I have at least one wonderful memory of him playing “tea party” with me. Grandpa bravely served his country in the Navy SeeBees. He was and still is greatly loved and missed in our family!
My Grandma Betty was like a second mother to me. I think of her often and WISH she had lived long enough to meet my three little boys. She was very special to me and I miss her greatly!
I love looking at these pictures of my Grandparents when they were dating. This is a little window into their young life that I would never have if these photos did not exist! It was the summer of 1948. They were young. In love. Had big dreams and their whole life ahead of them……
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Two more taken in Chicago. Weren’t they a dapper couple? Love their classy looks! I so treasure these photos!
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This image is from my husband’s family, on his dad’s side, during WWII. These wonderful people volunteered to fight for their country during a time when Japan was, to say the least, not very popular. This was a very troublesome time for any American of Japanese descent as they were looked on with suspicion and derision by their fellow Americans. Nevertheless, many Japenese-Americans, including my husband’s great-aunt and uncles, fought bravely for their country! May this generations bravery, integrity and fortitude pass on to my children and future generations!
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Here is an image of the entire Satake family. The four on the bottom right were my husband’s Grandpa, Grandma, Dad and brother. Wasn’t this family a handsome, classy bunch?!
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Below are two of my favorite Generation pictures of Grandma Satake, after many years, holding my middle child (left) and my firstborn on the right. Don’t you just love the way she cradles his tiny, newborn head as though he is the most precious of gifts? She recently passed away and we miss her sweet disposition and her way of asking the little ones, “do you want some Yum Yums?”
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The photo on the left is of my Grandpa Elmer on my mother’s side. I love this image of him smoking his pipe! And the sepia tones in this photo are so beautiful. Perhaps this is where I get my inclination to convert many of my images to Sepia and Vintage! Grandpa was a Paratrooper during the war. A braver man by far than me! Thanks, but I’ll stick to the ground! =) Grandpa Elmer grew up as a small, lowly farm boy and through hard work and determination, worked his way up to be CEO of the international division of Converse shoes! Wow! He is a prime example of the American dream of becoming whatever you want: if you can dream it and are willing to work for it, you can reach for the stars! May my boys inherit this same work ethic from their great-grandpa!
The photo to the right was his father in his later years. He was a farmer, as you can see by his overalls. This photo reminds me of a Norman Rockwell picture!
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The two images below are more of Grandpa Elmer. The left one with the fish has my mother on the right who was the oldest and my Aunt (is that you Aunt Mer?) on the left.
This right photo has my mother standing directly in front of Grandpa and my two aunts in front. My Grandparents had four girls altogether!
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So here is my mother’s mother, Grandma Sue, a lovely, kind, very artistic and talented lady who I have always wished greatly I had had the opportunity to meet. She passed away before I was born so without these photos, I would never have known what she looked like! I am so thankful someone took the time to take them! Grandma Sue was a sculptor and an occupational therapist. And a wife. A mother. A sister. A friend. A Daughter. Wasn’t she tall slender and stunning?!
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This image is of my Grandma Joan and I when I was probably about 9 years old or so. We aren’t related by blood but nevertheless I esteem her highly and am proud to call her Grandma. She is one of the kindest, classiest ladies I know and has a fantastic sense of humour. She took such wonderful, excellent care of my Grandpa Elmer when he had Alzheimer’s. My mother, my three aunts and I just love her!
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So here is a photo of my husband and I on our wedding day nearly 10 years ago….our generation!
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And my three boys: the future generation. We place so much of our hope in the generations to come!
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I love, love, love, these photos, treasure them and am glad for the memories that they kindle of people who I love and who have helped form the person I am today! This is what I love about being a photographer: the privelage to capture on film photos that chronicle the current generations and that become the heritage of others….images and moments, face and places that otherwise would be lost to the annuals of time!
So here is my tribute to all the generations that have gone before and who we are still walking with today and who we are a part of and are creating right now. May we learn from the mistakes of the previous generations and copy the things that have made those generations great and that we dare not forget! And I salute every American, in this generation and the ones before, who has served their country and made us all proud to live in this great land!
Have a wonderful Memorial Day spent remembering those you love and enjoying the time with those that are dear to you now!
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