This is Melinda Carol Warbritton, Im guessing around ten-eleven years old. Im also assuming the most beautiful girl in her class, but perhaps Im bias.
I love this photo. I love that no one ever cut it up. Sad in a way but also oddly comforting. Some sweet parallel between my childhood and hers; the pains of ambitious school-picture-ordering were not born with my generation.
My mom. She was a child?
Yet when I see this photo, I do see a child. She may have birthed me, but the girl in this image is younger than me. I feel an overwhelming need to protect her. Shes so young. So clean, and oddly..blond.
If I could only cloak her from the life Ive heard awaits her. Ive heard the stories.
And its frustrating.
Im angry I cant stop any of it. I want to protect her.
She thinks its funny I keep this photo by my bedside.
When she looks at it she only sees the day.
She remembers her ten year old insecurities.
Mindy forgot it was picture day in the rush of recess. And the looming wrath of an unsatisfied mother overwhelmed her when she finally remembered.
The only evidence I see are the light whispies hanging above her ears, pulling away just enough to appear oddly feminine.
But her face is calm; not anxious.
And her eyes are why I really find this photo so appealing. Its in the eyes that I see my mom.
2 comments:
oh, bravo...what a beautiful masterpiece of a post. you cause me to want to have your mom's photo on MY bedside table. thank you for sharing this with the world. i loved it.
So beautiful. PLEASE become a writer.
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