Sunday 19 September 2010

Old Photo, Old Memory


I well remember the date I got married -Saturday, seventh November nineteen sixty four.No honeymoon, or wedding night pictures are stored in my mind, only tragedy,for late on Sunday morning, the eighth,my father came to our door bearing news of death. Auntie Glad was pronounced D.O.A.at the hospital after a motorcycle accident while she was crossing the road for Morning Service. A great churchgoer, was my Auntie Glad...


 And this picture shows Gladys May in her younger days, before life
had left its mark...

The Poetry Bus this week set challenges for passengers, which included the option to write about a person at a wedding. The first photo was taken at my wedding reception, on the last full day of Auntie Glad's life, so I hope you forgive me for not actually producing a poem, as such, for this bus journey. However, there is a second, more romantic offering on Alias Jinksy.

The inclusion of two old photos will also let this qualify as a late, Sepia Saturday post - I'm nothing if not economical! LOL

29 comments:

  1. This is a story that needs no justification. So poignant.

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  2. "The first photo was taken at my wedding reception, on the last full day of Auntie Glad's life..."
    Auntie Glad had an appealing face, both young and old.
    I looked closely at that first picture; I wanted to see if something in her eyes might have hinted that she had an inkling that it was her last day. It's very saddening that your memory of your first day of marriage includes such a tragic event.
    Something about it though strikes me as fortuitous, if you'll forgive that. She was on her way to church and went straight on without having to sit in the halfway house on earth.

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  3. Funny how Blogger has it's own 'sense of humour' isn't it! Loved your pictures and how sad that your Auntie should lose her life in such a tragic way.
    Blessings, Star

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  4. I'm thinking of how marred your happiness must have been by such a loss. I'm also reminded that life is love and loss, love and loss.

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  5. it's strange the circles, the intersections that take place around grand family events isn't it jinksy. clearly she was intended to be at your wedding. steven

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  6. That is a truly sad story. I hope it was not an omen for your marriage!

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  7. What wonderful photos. What a cruel and unfortunate timing of events for your family.

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  8. What a bittersweet day Penny, the yin and yang of life... trust the beauty and light of your marriage shone brightly to eventually dispel some of the sad shadow of that day's tragedy.

    Also, I find the centering of this piece quite pleasing visually, the symmetry gives it strength... ;)

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  9. I have a friend named Margaret who was told, by telephone, on the morning after her wedding, "Margaret, your mother died last night." The person on the phone was Margaret's older brother, so the deceased was his mother too, and his wording continues to strike Margaret, even thirty years later, as odd.

    All blogger will do with my poetry is smack it up agianst the left margin. I can't get it to indent or center or anything else....consider yourself blessed.

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  10. What a terrible way to go.She was a fine lady too and looked full of character.
    I like to hear about your relatives.
    Maggie X

    Nuts in May

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  11. Thank you for treating us to these portraits. The story of Aunt Glad made a sad start to your married life.

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  12. What a sad and shocking story. It's sad that her passing is forever connected with your wedding, but so lovely that she spent her last full day amid family.

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  13. This picture of your aunt on the day of your wedding is even more special because she shared your wedding celebration. She was a lovely young woman but I like her last picture best.

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  14. I am so sad for Auntie Glad, but also for the lasting dark memory associated with your wedding day. I wish there were some way to go back and re-do it differently.

    P.S. I also found the centering of this post very pleasing.

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  15. What a sad story! Hope you have more cheerful wedding stories to tell.

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  16. Oh, Pen...what a sad story...

    The photos are lovely, though...just so sorry that death and your wedding are forever connected...Love you!! Janine XO

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  17. It's sad that your aunt's life ended so abruptly and on such a day but it's wonderful that you have the photograph. It's remarkable that her appearance changed so little during her lifetime.

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  18. Penny, how sad to have such a traumatic tragedy linked to the start of your marriage. Nice tribute to your aunt in those portraits. Thnaks for shareing.

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  19. They are both lovely photos of your Aunt Glad; isn't it just as well that none of us knows the future, I am sure she would have really enjoyed your wedding.

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  20. I love both photos, I am sorry though that tragedy struck so soon after such a happy occasion.....big hugs, xo

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  21. Such a sad story but how nice that you choose to remember her with a poem and the photos on your blog.

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  22. How sad that you had to start your wedded bliss with your aunties tragedy. I guess that is life's
    fate; it was not your doing and it was not your aunty's doing she was just the catalyst. Both pictures are very nice. I like the latter very much with her soft hairstyle and pretty embroidered blouse.

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  23. Thanks for sharing this Jinksy. It's such a terrible thing to have happened.
    Life is so cruel sometimes.
    x

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  24. Your aunt must have been in a wonderful mood on her way to church that day. She'd just seen you get married and was about to join her friends at her usual Sunday place. I imagine her death was instant - no time to worry, no worries about possible illness and infirmity to come - just the light being switched off. Shocking indeed, but to be preferred to a lingering clinging to existence.

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  25. Well, that was shocking. And although you didn't mean for it to be a poem, Blogger made it into one. Blogger perhaps likes to have the last word.

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  26. You're nothing if you're not creative. GTlad I found the post at last.

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  27. My friend,
    Not the happiest of ways to begin a new life ... I am trusting the rest of it has been good.

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  28. That is so sad Jinksy.Your Auntie Glad has such kind lovely eyes.I bet she is much missed.

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