slice of life

Sitting in a hot tub, third story balcony, au naturelle, with a cold drink. The breeze across my face is cold and brisk, about 30 degrees. The water, warm. The view: snow capped mountains to my right, not far away, red rock bluffs and cliffs covered in snow, like a rainbow. Or bacon. Nice. Very nice.

Ghosts

I am learning about my parents, their lives before I was born, dad’s friends in the Navy, through old bills and letters and photos. I learned dad’s Navy buddy named his son after him. This stuff had been in the house a long time, but mom said leave things alone, as did dad, and as an obedient child, I did not rummage. So now I am looking at old photos of people who were dear to my folks, and I don’t know a thing about them. Who is that family in front of a Christmas tree without a mom in the photo? Whose 40s wedding? The sailor with the tattoos in Japan? The dancing lady in the pasties and a scarf? Those handsome dogs? The men in the Japanese jazz bar?

Label the past. Talk to your parents.

I found the ornaments which are in my childhood pictures. More importantly, in Wayne's childhood portraits, which mean they are a good ten years older than I am. so glad I bothered to sort and save. I nearly just let them go.