A Picture of a Picture

Rita Wright

February 6, 1927 - June 24, 2003

When,

carving of Mt. Rushmore began

a record cost $0.39

the first motion picture with sound, The Jazz Singer, was released

Calvin Coolidge was President of the United States

Milk was $0.45 a gallon

Gas was $0.15 a gallon

This is my grandmother.
Wasn't she a total betty?

If these pictures were in color, I'm almost certain we would see bright red lipstick. If these pictures could come to life, I would ask her the year. 1941? 1945? What's it like to be living during World War 2?

Have you married grandpa Bill yet? Is he in the war?

I wish she were here for me to pick her mind. I was a preteen when she died and my mind wasn't curious enough to ask about World War 2, the Great Depression, Vietnam. All of these amazing things in American history- she lived through.

And she was sensational. Funny and bright.

I think living in the 1920s-40s would have been such a romantic era. The dresses, the hats, the high-waisted bathing suits. Oh, the south way back then. Hot summer nights, dirt roads, a carefree, God lovin' atmosphere.

It's strange to me to think she lived a long, happy life that began 63 years before I was born. That she grew up, opened a beauty shop, got married, and birthed six children.

I hope I can live a life just as amazing.