My get pushed challenge from Jackie was "links (but not a photo of a chain)". Naturally my thoughts turned to family connections. My third cousin, Mary Elizabeth, had some books by Rudyard Kipling that had belonged to my grandfather -- have his book plates in them. A while back she asked if we'd like to have them and my brothers answered instantly, 'Yes!" But with the COVID restrictions pretty fresh at that time, we decided to wait. Thursday she texted me to let me know she had them in a box ready to give me, so Saturday morning I drove over to her house and got a picture of her holding one of them, and a snapshot of Granddad she also had for us. Then we settled on her porch (appropriately distanced) for a nice chat.
Her grandfather, Charles Schwartz, was a first cousin of my grandmother and a fast friend of Granddad. My mom has described to me how every Saturday evening the two couples got together, either at my grandparents' house or the Schwartz house -- the two men discussing any and all topics.
I've included here the picture of Mary Elizabeth, a picture of the inside front cover of the book she's holding, showing Granddad's bookplate and signature, and the photo Mary Elizabeth has in her hand. Also a letter Granddad wrote to Charlie with his regrets that the Saturday "open forum" for that week had to be cancelled due to a conflict. I also have Charlie's reply. They both had a marvelous sense of humor. I really wish I could have known my grandfather, but he passed away when I was only about two years old. Also included in the collage is part of a family chart, showing siblings Agnes (Geis) Schwartz and John J. Geis, and their respective children. Gertrude Cecelia Geis is my grandmother; Charles Louis Schwartz is, obviously, Charlie.
@30pics4jackiesdiamond Thanks so much for this challenge. It gave me the perfect excuse to head right over to see Mary Elizabeth, whom I don't see nearly often enough.
Whay to go!! Fav for effort, narrative and composition. Love it. I regret I haven't completed uour challenge, I did the flashback, but life got in the way of trying to be inspired by it.
