Hard To Believe ...

[Arthur Little]

... my late first wife would've been 71 today, HAD she lived! She was born on the very day that the THEN Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain declared war on Germany ... September 3, 1939 ... which happened to be a Sunday.

Shortly before her wedding to me, she started collecting old family photos ... and continued this task unstintingly throughout the twenty-four years of our marriage ... right up until about a week before her premature death from Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma on 18 December, 1991 at the age of just 52.

One of her earliest entries reads: 3/9/39 ... "the day War - and Me - broke out!". Naturally enough, her collection of albums rank among my most-prized possessions. Truly a time for reflection!

[KeithD]

...and those pics are worth more than any money.

[Arthur Little]

...and those pics are worth more than any money.

... indeed they ARE ... they're priceless ... literally!

[mickcant]

Hi Arthur,
Lovely memories, have you used some in your family tree?
If so her actions will be treasured for generations.
Mick.

[Doc Alan]

... my late first wife would've been 71 today, HAD she lived! ... Truly a time for reflection!

It is indeed Arthur, but mixed with your sadness should be many happy memories, gratitude that without her the family pictures might not have been correctly identified, and surely she would have wanted for you the happiness which you now have with Myrna

[Arthur Little]

Hi Arthur,
*Lovely memories, have you used some in your family tree?

*Just so, Mick. But as far as my family tree is concerned, I've only used the odd one or two of Iris's photos ... since much of the research has been concentrated on previous generations appertaining to my father's side. And most of it to date, has been undertaken by a nephew of mine living in Hertfordshire.

If so her actions will be treasured for generations.
Mick.

Indeed they WILL; in fact, often when my daughter, Fiona visits, she has a skim through Her mum's albums ... which will eventually become particularly useful for showing her kids pictures of the granny they never knew. And on most occasions that my son happens to be in the house for any length of time, HE has a look through them also.

[Arthur Little]

It is indeed Arthur, but mixed with your sadness should be many happy memories, gratitude that without her the family pictures might not have been correctly identified, and surely she would have wanted for you the happiness which you now have with Myrna.

, Alan. Thing IS, though, after Iris's death, her brother asked me if HE could have the older albums ... by THAT, I mean those containing "ancient" photos that had been identified as having at one time belonged to HER father's parents' who'd both been long dead by the time SHE was born - and which he [my brother-in-law] felt would be of little interest to ME.

But of course, it was these old (more brown & white - as opposed to black & white) sepia photos that had first inspired Iris to collaborate with her dad in putting them into albums - especially since her paternal grandfather had been a keen amateur photographer (and had even patented a type of camera shutter in the late 1890s!). This, then, sparked off her later of compiling an album for each year of our marriage ... right up until 1991.

And you're right in thinking that Iris would've been the first person to have delighted in the happiness I now share with Myrna.

[Arthur Little]

Interestingly - and it was remiss of me not to mention this fact in my previous post - Iris herself trained as a professional [studio] photographer, following on her schooldays at Perth Academy. After 12 years in this field, she changed tack and became a Medical Photographer at the former Bridge of Earn Hospital - erected during wartime in 1940, closed 53 years later ... and now demolished.

[aposhark]

It is great that you can keep and discuss old photographs.
Is Myrna ok with you keeping old photos?

I have noticed a few posts from the Filipinas on here regarding this and how they are not happy at all with their men keeping photos.

I have had a few discussions with Rochelyn on this subject and even though I think I have explained what I think, I know somewhere inside her lovely mind lies a little resentment because of her jealousy
Maybe older wives can accept photos more than younger ones, I don't know.

BTW, I have just noticed your fine sporran.
Can't imagine why I didn't see this or your kilt before.
So, are you are "real" Scotsman?

[KeithD]

BTW, I have just noticed your fine sporran.
Can't imagine why I didn't see this or your kilt before.

Probably cos like me, you don't pay much interest in guys wearing skirts

Arthur, why not put the pics up somewhere on the Internet, then you can allow the family to access anytime, and a copy will be around until the Earth goes BOOM!!!

[triple5]

Nice post, Arthur. I agree with Keith about putting them online My mum recently got in touch with a cousin (through facebook) she hadn't seen since she was about 5. He had a load of old pics on Flickr, some of my grandfather when he was just a toddler. She was made up to see them

[Arthur Little]

It is great that you can keep and discuss old photographs.
Is Myrna ok with you keeping old photos?

Maybe older wives can accept photos more than younger ones, I don't know.

No problems on that score, Mike ... Myrna was married before - and widowed also - she IS that bit older too, and knows what it's LIKE to lose a partner through death. Indeed, she's perfectly agreeable to my *previous wedding photo remaining on display in our living room/dinette ... actually encourages it, even ... SINCE [as she says] Iris was, after all, my adult childrens' mother, and it would upset them if *it were tucked away out of sight in some drawer.

[Arthur Little]

So, are you are "real" Scotsman?

... a TRUE Scotsman? Aha! Now THAT would be telling ...

Probably cos like me, you don't pay much interest in guys wearing skirts

... s? ... I somehow shouldn't imagine so!

Arthur, why not put the pics up somewhere on the Internet, then you can allow the family to access anytime, and a copy will be around until the Earth goes BOOM!!!

... certainly worth considering.

Nice post, Arthur.

, Paul.

[Arthur Little]

My mum recently got in touch with a cousin (through facebook) she hadn't seen since she was about 5. He had a load of old pics on Flickr, some of my grandfather when he was just a toddler. She was made up to see them

Wow ... truly INCREDIBLE!