Sadly, my mother passed away in 1990 at the early age of 54 -- which is younger than I am now. She succumbed to breast cancer, which she had kept secret from everyone until the last moment.
I don't have many pictures of my mother. She was uncomfortable being photographed. After my mom died, my father gave me old family pictures; they show my mom during her early years and up to the time of her marriage. I think the pictures are very interesting. They depict a time which has long disappeared and reveal aspects to my mother that I'd never known.
Do you find anything interesting in these pictures? If so, please share.
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You're mum was beautiful, I especially like the last three photographs.
ReplyDeleteI always like looking at old photos, it's really interesting to see older people as young, as you never imagined them
ReplyDeletelovely!
ReplyDeletewhat a beautiful, chic woman! even as a little girl she´s dressed to the nines!
and you got your mothers smile :-)
thank you for sharing this. my hubby lost his mother when she was only 60, stomach cancer. and she too kept it a secret until her last days....
this brave women.
Now I get where Ally came from... You look more like your mom when you are being the real you and you look more like your dad when you're Ralph. It makes sense, I bet you probably have her character as well. I love how feminine all women look in vintage photos. They have this "air" of purity and kindness and to me that's appealing. (I'm kind of fed up by the sexed up toys we're supposed to look like these days judging by the fashion industry). Your mom looks like a shy and sentimental girl, but quite strong. I wish I knew more about her and the relationship between you too. My favorite photo is the first - I love the dress, the hair, the posture, the smile. To me this little girl says: look at me, I'm free (very strong image - I'd make a huge canvas out of it for my living room). Thanks for sharing this post my friend. Hugs from Greece :)
ReplyDeleteYou're so right, dimi! Thank you for your response.
DeleteThese pics are gorgeous! That first one is adorable!
ReplyDeleteOh how I adore old photos! These are so lovely. I'm glad you have them. So sad that she passed away so young.
ReplyDeletebisous
Suzanne
I see you in your mother's face, Ally...or other way round, however you want to say it. Love looking at old photos. Thanks for sharing, dear. *hugs*
ReplyDeleteYour mother is beautiful Ally! She reminds me of my grandmother who was around her age - they have a similar style! I love the looks of the 50's and seeing all the cool things they wore back then! I'd rock that skirt she has on that sort of looks polka dotted!
ReplyDeleteYour mother was a lovely woman :)
ReplyDeleteI adore that first photo; it's so perfectly childlike, and it makes me think your mom had a lot of "spunk" as a kid (and maybe even as an adult). I also love the second-to-last photo. Her joy is real, and the look on your father's face as he looks at her is heart-melting. You can tell they really loved each other and enjoyed each other's company.
Gorgeous photos my friend ~ Your Mom was a beautiful lady and so sad that she died so young. You sure have your Mom's spark! I absolutely LOVE the wedding photo.
ReplyDeleteYou look so much like your mother when you're in your make-up! She is just beautiful, and her body type is very much like yours (not a lot of waist, small in the bust). You could easily emulate the full skirt and suit looks here.
ReplyDeleteWhat a siren she was! You my dear have some amazing genes, I must say! I have a lot of vintage pics of my grandmother, and I love and treasure them so dearly. Women dressed and acted like women. They were classy and hello the amazing fashion! Women dressed up to go to the grocery store, it's so inspiring to me. I feel sometimes like I'm an old soul lol. (PS ~ How perfect are your mom's eyebrows?!) Thanks so much for sharing these, they definitely made me smile today :)
ReplyDeletexo ~ Lia | Smart n Snazzy
I love those old photographs with the fancy edges. So much nicer than poring through photos on the computer, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteWhen I looked at your mother, the first thing that came to mind was that she looked like a sweet, kind and thoughtful person. So now we know where you get that part of your personality from. :o)
Agreed, old pics are interesting! I love the 1st picture, and your mom was very pretty, and her face looks really friendly.
ReplyDeleteshe was a looker! i love the first picture...sassy and sweet :)
ReplyDeleteNice pics. It's always funny when you see your parents as just people. Nor Mom and Dad. The one of them at the table is my favorite. They look like they are having fun. I lime the wedding cake shot, too. Sweet memories.
ReplyDeleteYour mum is lovely and I'm so glad you have these pictures. What I see is something that happens to many girls. I see a little girl who is confident about who she is but who lost that confidence when she reached adolescence. That would be about the age when she would have become more aware of what she was supposed to be and look like as a female and how she might not live up to it. That would explain not liking her photo being taken. I may be completely off the mark, but that is what I see.
ReplyDeleteI also see a very sweet and kind person in that lovely face. I'm sorry you lost your mum too soon. I am very close to my mum and although I will face losing her one day, I just cannot imagine it.
Old pictures give us such an interesting and unique glimpse into life as it used to be. Like Emma, I was captivated by both the first and second-to-last photo - your mom exudes such confidence.
ReplyDeleteI definitely see the resemblance between you and your mom! I love looking at old family photos...takes you back to a different time!
ReplyDelete-Sharon
The Tiny Heart
Wow, you favor her so much. I love the candid shot at the table where she's smiling. She looks so happy.
ReplyDeleteI definitely see Ally in that first shot. What lovely photos to have.
ReplyDeleteAlly, your mother was absolutely gorgeous! I can see certain similarities between her facial features and yours. I sense in these images that she was a poised, confident woman who was aware that she was attractive (I don't say that negatively). She held her head high (even in that first, massively cute childhood image), beamed a big smile, and seems like she would have been a gregarious and outgoing woman.
ReplyDelete♥ Jessica
what a great bunch of photos. I really like the shot of her at the banquet table (prom?) where she has such an infectious smile.
ReplyDeleteYour mom was super pretty!! Her smile is perfect!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beauty she was! I absolutely love the first photo. You look a lot like her.
ReplyDeleteMy father was born in 1941, so I too have a stash of vintage family photos. I must say they are my favorite photos.
Your mother looks like a very sweet and stylish lady. Beautiful post and photos! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteLisa.
Did your mother have any siblings? I wonder if you could learn more about your mother from relatives or the children of friends or relatives who heard stories about her, even if they didn't know Barbara Jo themselves.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I see in the last two photos is that your father was very "handy."
Yes, but by a different father whom my grandmother was estranged from.
DeleteWhen i look at these pictures they remind me of my grandmother's pictures.
ReplyDeleteShe too was born in the 20's. The clothes and hair are very similar to those in my grandmother's pictures, its the image of an era. There is a smile in every single picture and she also had the ability to smile with her eyes.
I meant to say late 20's :)
ReplyDeleteyour mother was adorable! Very beutiful and clever - her eyes even young are so wise. Looking at pictures from 20s I do always keep on wonder what was it like to live in 20s
ReplyDeleteTwo points
ReplyDeleteTo respond to your inquiry I see a connection between your mother's dresses and her sense of style and the style of dress that you seem to favor. You may just have your mother's taste or you may be emulating her style in some regard.
You noted that your mother had a miscarriage prior to your birth. My mother miscarried three daughters before giving birth to me and my younger brothers. In addition to bedrest she was given estrogen, most likely DES. There are lots of theories that a male exposed to large doses of DES or estrogen in utero is many times more likely to have transgender proclivities. It may be that your mother was also treated with estrogen during her pregnancy with you.
Pat
Fascinating! This IS a theory to consider. Thanks, Pat.
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