Me & my PopPop
My grandfather passed away late Thursday night,
I was driving 95 miles an hour down the 5, at 11:41 I looked at the clock he’s just left
Indeed.
Whirlwind of family & food platters. What a curious response, food platters.
Talks with my mother about the knowing, she’s tried to talk with
her sisters about it for years and they tell her she’s crazy.
I don’t know if my having it makes her more or less crazy.
I spent the weekend sorting family photos and photographing the ones that called to me the most,
reliving memories through objects, becoming increasingly frustrated at aging.
It was difficult to find boxes of hidden photos – with my PopPop gone and my Nana is now in a retirement home, the house needs to be cleared out. So we have suddenly all this history, and no one left to decipher it…
My grandfather and his mother, Annetta Mae
My grandfather’s father died in 1922, quite young and when my grandfather was only 2.
He was raised by his grandmother and great aunt.
My grandfather’s father and grandmother.
My grandfather’s grandmother and her parents, in Germany.
My grandfather on the far right. All the girl’s dresses are seersucker stripes!
My great grandfather
My PopPop, in the middle, with a very charming French family
(in France in WW2)
Great great great grandfather Nicolaus Puckhaber, on the left.
I love the background, they’re at Niagra Falls!
I also found many photos of my Nana’s side, which I’d never seen – I’d never even seen a photo of her as a little girl, which is crazy since she is the cutest thing ever!
Dryad Nana??
This is how I want my life to be. Fancy in the forest.
Nana’s father helps her brother ride a goat.
He smoked that pipe until he died at age 94 – I was 10, and pipe smoke STILL makes me think of him.
Nana’s mother (in the crazy hat!)
I’m adding many more (much larger sizes, too) to Flickr- go to the end of the set and work backward!!
Jessica Fraser
1 year ago
Oh, I’m so sorry… my grandpa passed 10 years ago and I still miss him terribly.
Those pictures are so lovely… really a treasure.
rosey
1 year ago
Tamera what an amazing set of images from your family. If you happen to need any help sorting and archiving let me know…I have a thing for family -history – memory – and of course photographs. I am sorry to hear of your grandfather’s passing. . . but these things tend to bring physical objects of the past up to the surface. A blessing indeed. xox
Anna @ D16
1 year ago
Tamera, I didn’t realize when I saw the photos on Flickr what had happened — I’m so sorry.
What an amazing thing to have these photos. I never knew either of my grandfathers, and would give anything to have this kind of visual record to know them by.
verhext
1 year ago
Thank you — he had been dealing with Alzheimers for a long, long time – when I was there in January he did not know me at all. So it’s really for the best, but sad.
Anna – I saw a bunch of photos marked “Newburgh” and thought of you!
Melissa
1 year ago
I’m sorry to hear about your grandpa…is that also him in the little frock-coat (second picture down?) He looks just like your nephew!
verhext
1 year ago
That’s his father! He’s the one above that.
nath
1 year ago
I have been looking at a lot of my family photographs recently and thinking a lot about how I’d give anything to sit down with my Nan-Nan (who died when I was 11) and talk about her life and mine.
It’s wonderful indeed to have such an amazing archive such as these but so sad too, all those stories wishing to be told.
Sasha
1 year ago
I am so sorry to hear the news… the Leaving is heartbreaking, any way you look at it. I hope you are taking care of yourself during this hard time. The photos are so wonderful– thank you for sharing them.
I wish I could come to the Bay for Mariee/Alela, but there’s been some broke times here, and all my May money is already swallowed by Witch Camp (which, ahem, there is still space at! and YOU should be there more than anyone!!!! google NCWHS now!!!) and a wedding in pricey Santa Barbara.
one day very very very soon we should meet…. if you are so inclined, a short film starring me (not that I am an actress) is debuting at the gay/lesbian/transgender film fest the Friday of Pride weekend in SF. It’ll be at the Roxy! fun times for all…..
xoxoxo
Sasha
Lady Lavona
1 year ago
sending my love to you! xo Lavona