I found this picture of my grandma a while back and decided I needed to put it somewhere where I could see it more often. Unfortunately, pictures in a book (or a box) pushed way to the back of a cupboard tend not to be seen.

I love this picture. So much.

I wish I could have known my grandma at the time it was taken. I don’t know much about the person she was at this particular season in her life. But, the back of the photo has her full name, using her maiden name. So, I’m going to guess she wasn’t married yet. She and grandpa got married in July, 1940. She was born in 1919. So, if I had to guess, I would guess she must have been 19 or 20.

I love her contagious smile.

I love her outfit.

I love the fact that the background is a dirt ravine or ditch. Nothing fancy and just enough information to make the viewer think it was probably taken close to her home in Kansas.

When I look at this picture, I see a free-spirited young woman. One that surely enjoyed life and lived each moment to the fullest. I wish I could have known this younger version of grandma.

Isn’t it funny to think about the people in our lives and the lives they have lived? To think about them being in a different season or stage of life? I often wonder if my girls could have known me at their current ages if they would have liked me. Would I have been one of their friends?

I hope so.

They see me who I am now. They probably don’t even think of me being anything more than mom. It’s sort of sad in a way. We have people in our lives who are who they are but were once someone else. Does that make sense?

I’ve mentioned this before…how much I wish I could go back in time. Just once in awhile and view people and situations all over again. And if I could, I would want to be the same age as my grandma in this picture. I think she and I would have been really good friends.

When we see each other again, we will have so many things to talk about.