The First Time I Met Yann's Uncle

Hanging above the old buffet in the dining room,

was an oval frame with a black and white photo

of a lovely young woman.

When I asked who she was French Husband's Uncle told me it was his mother. 

"You mean Yann's grandmother?" I asked with embarrassment

as I had never seen a photo of his grandmother before.

And with that French Husband's Uncle told me the story of his mother...

his gentle, sweet, loving mother

he was one of seven children, his mother was an artist.

On the top of French Husband's Uncle's armoire

was a demi-John that was used to hold wine

it had large beautifully full red poppies

that his Grandmother had painted. 

She was sixteen.

Self-taught, a natural.

French Husband did not know that his grandmother

had painted it.

Seeing the demi-John, and knowing her needlework

(I have a set of two-bed linens that she made,

not for me, but for Yann's mother for her trousseau)

made me wish more than ever

that our children and I could have met her. 

French Husband's grandmother also painted

this oil painting when she was sixteen years old.

A winter's day along the river.

Her signature.

I asked to take a photo to pass on to our children.

An artist. A gentle sweet grandmother.

A link to my husband's past.

Above the fireplace, I saw a charcoal portrait,

I teasingly asked, "Is he a family relation too?"

French Husband didn't know.

His Uncle smiled shyly, "Yes, it is your Great Grandfather."

The stories continued...

French Husband's Great Grandfather was an architect.

I looked at my husband as if for the first time...

one never knows everything about anyone.

French Huband's Uncle had plenty of stories to tell.

One of the differences between my French Husband

and me is that I ask questions. 

Not nosey but curious, interested, a desire to know.

French Husband was pleased.

Comments

[Jeanne]

Beautiful is everything you share with us.
Thank you
Blessings for us all
Love Jeanne

Beautiful stories are legends of our past and future.
X0X0

[Penni]

I love that you ask questions, particularly of family about family. There are so many things we know about our parents that our children may never learn if questions aren't asked or stories are not shared. Seeing Yann's Grandmother's paintings must have stunned everyone, such talent for one in their teens...trying to imagine all that she must have created! And wondering where one would find the buildings Great Grampa designed!

[Lil Fleur]

I hope you've written down the family history that Yann's father told you. My husband knew very little about his family and I was able to get some names and facts from his mom a few years before she passed away. But of course I wish I had recorded her or talked to her more about the family.

[Vicki]

WOW......INCREDIABLE and soooo Beautiful, both the Story and the Art. What a treasure for your Family. Happy Holidays and buon Natale, Vicki

[jackie]

So talented. I hope the work stays in the family. I find people who love antiques are always very curious about the "back story." It's one of the best parts of the disease;)

[Sue J.]

so important to know these things – and to keep them in the family.

[PJT]

What a talented artist his grandmere was! Knowing the background of your husband fleshes his story out, makes you see him differently or with greater understanding. So glad you asked the questions! I had been doing my genealogy for some time and having no luck with my husband's family. Kids and jobs got in the way of working on it for many years. Finally, 3 yrs ago, husband complained and like any good wife, I said, "You're on the computer all the time, why don't YOU do it,it's YOUR family!" And lo and behold, he was on it until midnight and eventually found his family back to the 1700s! We even visited Poland and found abandoned graves of his great uncles, etc. Seeing him standing at those graves is a site that is burned into my memory and taught me so much about him.

[Kathy]

Little tidbits of family history preserved because you asked questions. Glad you did.

[Lil]

Beautiful artwork. ...The name signed on the painting doesn't seem to be a French surname. Was she British?

[Christine]

Beautiful post Corey, that touched me profoundly. My own French husband also never asks questions, and it's through my curiosity ( or nosiness) that he and his sisters have found out all sorts of things about their family. No artists or architects, but many interesting characters.

[Marilyn]

I tell my husband it is good to ask questions, but he doesn't ask either. I am so glad to know he is not the only one that does that. Yes, that is how we know. So glad you asked the questions. Her paintings are beautiful!

[Cathleen]

A beautiful bit of history. One should always ask questions!