Once upon a time there was a handsome man.
and once upon a time there was a beautiful woman, who had no idea she'd meet the handsome man who had a wife and couldn't keep her. The handsome man put down for good his bottle of amber liquid and asked for the hand of marriage of the beautiful woman who lived on a farm. They were married - what a nice-looking couple! but oh oh! Little did the beautiful woman know that the handsome man's three children would need a home!
The three little children came, one...then two...then three. . . and blew their house down! The three little children came to live with the beautiful woman and the handsome father. One of those was a little west virginia pigtailed girl. Her shoes were too tight, but she never cried.
Then SURPRISE! the beautiful woman became pregant and had two of her own! Five children! Oh, but little did the beautiful woman know that one day, far and yet not so far into the future, she would lose one of those children born from her body. Her beloved son and beloved brother to all the children, for there were no halves and steps when it came to the four brothers and the pigtailed sister-there was only: brothers and sister. But, what choice would the beautiful woman have made if given it? To lose one from her own body? or . . . one of the three who came along one day, from another mother's body? What a terrible question! But it was asked by the three children who came to live with the beautiful woman. Yes, the terrible question was asked, "Did she wish it was me instead of her own?" . . . Oh, sad tales are told, sad tales are told, sad tales are lived within the hearts and minds of those who have loved and lost and lost again and forever.
But before that terrible day when the beloved son and brother left, the family was made into a whole, all the pieces come together like a broken tea set where one goes to garage sales and picks up a cup here, a plate there, a saucer here, and takes them home to make one complete, but imperfect, set.
And no one would know by looking at this picture that one would leave them forever; that the father would leave another home and wife; that the sons would scatter to other places save for one; that the pigtailed girl would one day tell fictional tales about families and love and belonging -because she does and she must.
But there are happy endings to this tale, to this broken-tea-set family. Yes . . . so do not fret, for the happy endings are there to soak up and take into your marrow. The beautiful woman found her another handsome prince and is living happily ever after. The brothers and the sister watch out for each other, linked by familial sibling love. The handsome father found him another beautiful princess and they live happily ever after, too.
the end . . . (yet not).
29 comments:
So cool. I love old family photos, and the tales that go with them. Thanks!
...and the beautiful little child, the only sister, grew up to be the holder/user of the glue in her family. And she wrote magical books, better than Black Beauty for adults, and loved everyone and was loved by all.
now you gonna make me cry Angie....
(Hi Suldog....*smiling at you*)
The beautiful baby girl princess became a beautiful literary QUEEN !
The beautiful baby girl princess became a beautiful literary QUEEN !
Lovely pictures and memories. Thanks for sharing!
Well, you can say there was a HEA but this still is SO sad. Seriously. *shaking head*
Horrible for the kids and the parents. To think of losing one of my children is excruciating. I'm so sorry for what happened after that precious child died, but at the same time I think it probably shaped you into the beautiful and kind person you are today.
Your lovely step-mom looks exactly like I pictured her! ;-) Your whole family is so beautiful, you lucky lady, you!
What a great article on family and love.
Nice story Kat. Love the pix with it. It's true life and I love truth no matter the shape. It's what we have to accept and own. You're doing that beautifully!
Beautiful story,a nd I love the pictures.
Ooh, I think I'm more with Jessica - this ain't no Brady Bunch.
Made me feel sad, yet impressed with how it demonstrated the tenacity, hope and beauty within the human spirit.
And great pics!
Although it had its sad moments, moments where you want to go shake the characters in the story and say, "Just what do you think you're doing!", I'm glad it all had a happy ending--even if the process was a little bumpy.
And they certainly were a beautiful woman and a hansom prince--which explains the beautiful princess.
The little girl, whose shoes were too tight made me want to pick her up and hug her. And now grown, you share your life in writing and with many friends. Bless you today.
Wow. Beautifully told...and it has such a forlorn, wistful quality about it. I think all of these things strengthen us as writers...and in a way, we heal through the worlds we create. It's as though we're rewriting our past over and over and over again, through different eyes.
I have an award for you on my blog today:
http://stephie5741.blogspot.com/2009/10/and-award-goes-toyou.html
Life is more complicated than imagination can make it, isn't it? What treasure of photographs. Such a beautiful family and so much in everyone's heart.
Wow, this was an unexpected and surprising post. It did evoke a kind of sadness and strength too. I love the photos.
My mother-in-law and father-in-law have a picture of themselves exactly like the one of your step mother and father in the car. I mean it's eerily similar.
Well, this was very interesting. Thanks for sharing.
Oh what an emotional roller coaster I went on with you! Thank you for sharing, that was lovely.
Like all fairy tales, this one has a princess upon whom the story hinges, and the happily ever after comes at a cost. I loved seeing your family pictures. I love the little girl you were.
Love it and the wonderful pictures. Makes me long for the new book. I think this winter I will be rereading Tender Graces.
told like a true story teller. great post and pics!
Beautifully told and illustrated story.
Gorgeous story and photos.
(((((Kathryn))))) Crying a little -- but I'm glad you've told us this story.
I love the way you have done this. thanks for sharing part of your childhood. thumbs up!!
Kathryn,
I couldn’t help but think that in telling your story you were mending your family one stitch at a time. Thank you for letting me watch as you stitched this human story, full of poignancy, hurt, and promise.
What a story you have. The emotions it brought up...Thank you for sharing it with us all.
Thanks for playing this week ♥
FABULOUS post.
Yes childhood memories can be bitter and sweet, and each child has a different childhood completely from any of their siblings.
Love this post! I am a sucker for looking at other people's pictures, kind-of like peeking through the windows of their house (not that I've ever done that!). Enjoyed visiting your site.
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