The face of time. Old photos. Stories told, untold, retold...
then, now and then over again.
Our stories play out, we each have a part.
Digging at the brocante photos unearthed
in a soap tin held together with a rubber band.
The soap tin had a tag it said:
"Photographs from the Canebiere, Marseilles"
Photo of a mother and child:
Marie-Francoise and bebe Mathilde.
Photo of a young girl:
Helene with the latest hairstyle
against her parent's wishes.
Photo of a young man: Was he the father of Mathilde?
or the husband of Marie-Francoise?
Maybe he was Helene's brother Jean-Pierre?
I don't know, only his name is written on the back.
Photo: Young man with a stiff collar and a tie,
Jacques.
Photo: A boy in a sailor outfit missing his white tie.
Blue eyes, ruby lips, straight bangs...
his name: Andre-Michel.
Do you know that most French names have a masculine and feminine pronunciation?
Andrea-Michelle.
Photo: Girl with a monogram on her dress.
dp
Delphine Perrin
Is she Jacques' sister?
Are they facing opposite so that in a photo frame they could be facing one another?
Photo: Girlfriends.
Lise and Cosette with a hint of a smile.
Cosette is wearing a pinafore.
Photo: Serious with earrings.
Was it a rough day?
Marie-Louise doesn't say.
Old photos found in a soap tin.
Photo: Young woman on a boat.
Estelle, with yellow espadrilles.
Taken by her Father Henri one summer at the Vieux-Porte in Marseille.
Photo: Young woman with a yellow purse.
Chelsea. Taken by Martin in Mexico.
Old photos capturing a brief moment in time to be replayed over and over again
in another moment in time.
Who are you, can you share your image in words?
Photo: Middle-Aged Woman
Grieving her brother.
Never wears yellow.
Prefers black --
It is a good thing she doesn't wear yellow or she would be mistaken for a bumblebee.
The oldest child, only daughter, four brothers - Missing one.
--------
If you want to use this example or your own:
Name:
Age
Present-day feeling.
A color you would never wear.
Favorite color.
other...
OK, I'll bite!
Name: Kathie B
Age: Geezette
Present-day feeling: Terrified I won't be able to accomplish everything I want to do.
A color you would never wear: Yellow-green, because it makes my complexion look sallow.
Favorite color: Anything in the blue spectrum, from seafoam/jade to lavender/purple (but curiously, also pale butter yellow, go figure!).
Favorite foods: Chocolate. Apricots.
Common food I hate: Coffee (I once drank half a cup. The end.)
Posted by: Kathie B | 19 February 2021 at 10:11 PM
georgeanne goes by dolly at home in neighborhood and with childhood friends
more than 50 less than 60 even typing that shocks me
second born- first girl -2 siblings younger than me-- one sister and one brother first
born brother
never wear pink or blue(well navy I do) or yellow or green prefer white cream black
red is my favorite color intense and passionate-
tired of winter tired of snow tired of grey cold days longing for spring but more so summer
exhausted caring for an aging parent with multiple issues day and night=longing for sleep uninterrupted
food pizza
strong coffee in the morning
love being around the water and people who are funny and quick to make others feel at home
Posted by: g | 19 February 2021 at 11:03 PM
Julie, 65, but until recently looked younger.
I feel grateful that in Augusta, GA, USA, my husband and I just received our second Covid vaccine, but I feel concerned that so many have not. I am also concerned every day about the state of my country's political health. Why do my countrymen favor autocracy these days?
I love your photos of Gabriel--what a beautiful child!
I would never wear a pastel; when I am not in sweatpants and a t-shirt I wear vivid COLOR. My glasses are RED, my pandemic hair silver.
I love nature, animals (I raised orphaned raccoons) and anything French. My father served in WWII as a pharmacist in a general hospital on the French/Swiss border, and nearly married a French nurse named Regine, but she would not move to the U.S. so they parted. So many stories from my dad who wore a beret back home in Iowa. Pinch me--I visited Paris and Normandy in 2010.
I LOVE diversity and wish people were more tolerant of one another, and more cooperative. Everyone has something important to contribute.
Posted by: Julie | 20 February 2021 at 02:11 AM
name: Barbara
age: 72 ( how the heck did that happen?!)
I'm the 6th of 7 siblings; 2 brothers and my sister have passed away, leaving huge holes in our family
feeling: worried for my remaining siblings who live in TX and OK. Relieved that their weather is moderating.
color: I never wear orange or green. My favorite color is pink and all of its shades from wine, plum, burgundy all the way down to blush.
I stopped coloring my hair when I was 69. So glad I did!
I love to eat all kinds of food, but have to watch my intake as I'm only 5'1" - the shortest in my family, other than my Grandmother who was 4'11"
Love reading your words, Corey, and hearing about your family and your life. I'm so sorry that Marty has passed away, but am convinced you will meet again.
Posted by: Barbara Sullivan | 20 February 2021 at 02:28 AM
Jackie
65
middle of the (8-children) pack
aware, so aware, of the clock.
Tick, Tick, Tick...
Never wears green
Loves black
Lucky.
Posted by: jackie | 20 February 2021 at 05:27 AM
Name: Ella
Age 62
Present-day feeling. Hopeful
A color you would never wear. None
Favorite color. Pink
other... holding others in my heart.
Posted by: Ella Dyer | 20 February 2021 at 07:01 AM
you want to use this example or your own:
Name: Rose Marie
Age: not acknowledged
Present-day feeling: triste
A color you would never wear: yellow
Favorite color: 💙
Posted by: Ro Fo | 20 February 2021 at 07:07 AM
Name Debbie
Age 59
Present day feeling: Trying to come to terms with the loss of my husband 3 1/2 years ago and empty nesting, my sons leaving home and our home town
Colour I would never wear: Turquoise
Favourite colour: orange
Posted by: Debbie Lawton | 20 February 2021 at 08:46 AM
The photographs are all so lovely. I love photographs so much.
Present day feeling so happy spring will soon arrive. I have had the long winter and isolation blues due to covid lock downs.
I love the pastel colours of spring and cannot wait to hear all the birds singing, blossoms on trees, flowers in abundance, sunshine and joy and happiness.
I love all kinds of food except fried or too spicy.
Every morning I drive to Starbucks to get a skinny vanilla latte with soy milk.
I love family, friends, my faith, music good books and great people. Thankful and blessed beyond measure and everything to me is a treasure. I loved reading all your posts. And Thank you Corey always. Much love Jeanne X0X0
Posted by: Jeanne | 20 February 2021 at 10:37 AM
Karen
59 but feeling 20
Feeling adrift looking for my next adventure
Artist who loves all colors
Widow of ten years, now facing an almost empty nest
Seated in my faith, family and friends and finding the silver linings
Aware of beauty found even in grief
Keeping you and your family in prayer
Posted by: Karen K | 20 February 2021 at 05:15 PM
Ancient, but still a child.
The second of six children; we are three boys, three girls. All of us still close, but live far apart.
I'm a glutton for color, for food & life, for laughter. There's no color I wouldn't wear.
But my bedroom is blue, I love serenity.
My deepest regret: The love I didn't give, the attention I didn't pay, all the books I won't have time to read. & never enough time spent in France!
My beloved husband won't ever take an experimental vaccine (he works in an adjacent field) & I am terrified for him. We have explored therapeutics (yes there are a couple) and I pray for miracles for everyone. I've lost a cousin to this dreadful plague.
Thank you, Corey, for your beautiful writing.
Posted by: Virginia | 20 February 2021 at 07:45 PM
Many-yeared (but not enough to be eligible for COVID-19 vaccination).
Grieving through and through for husband, recently and unexpectedly gone from living on Earth;
grateful for all I have had and have.
Facing abundant challenges, including pandemic isolation at a time I very much need contact with
other people in real life.
Lover of animals (wild and domestic).
A total water person; happiest when in (or, secondly, on) it.
Favorite colors: the saturated hues, particularly emerald green and deep purple).
Oldest of three siblings.
Parent of two children, grandmama of identical-twin toddler grandchildren (whom
I have not yet been able to meet).
Former flight attendant, then purser for Pan Am (when its flying was all international); former
attorney, then arbitrator of labor/employment disputes.
Went to law school full-time while flying: a complementary combination.
Lover of languages: have spent years trying to become conversant in French and Russian, also
studied three other languages.
Savorer of diversity in all respects.
Have lived in several places abroad; spent parts of three winters in the USSR, and one glorious
month driving around Kenya and Tanzania when the roads were dirt tracks (and there were no
bandits).
Have the regrets voiced by Virginia (above).
Praying for continuing sustaining Grace for Corey.
😘
Posted by: Leslie in Oregon | 21 February 2021 at 01:57 AM
Name: Jennifer Phillipps
Age 61 (62 in April)
Present-day feeling: Grateful that NZ is not in lockdown and we can do normal daily stuff and we have only lost 26 lives from Covid in NZ....long may that continue.
A color you would never wear - Purple
Favorite color: Turquoise
I also prefer to wear mostly black, sometimes grey......I like to use jewellery and accessories to add the colour, including Native American Turquoise jewels and creative pieces of wearable art.....black garments are so much easier to throw on and I like black against my fair skin and my blonde (ginger tendencies) but starting to show grey hair.....
One of 6 children, 3 of my siblings are adopted....I am the second oldest and had the greatest share of minding the young ones all through my growing up time.....and now still as my parents have now both passed away. I am a step-mum to two, though my step-daughter passed away quite young...she was a special needs person called Rhiannon.
Peace and wellness be with you all..... Jennifer
Posted by: Jennifer Phillipps | 21 February 2021 at 03:22 AM
Corey !!! Permettez moi de faire appel à vos souvenirs pas si lointains. Je me souviens d'une photo de vous sur laquelle vous étiez absolument rayonnante en été vêtue d'une robe jaune. J'ai retrouvé le jour ... et vous ?
Mon nom : Jeanne-Renée choisis pour le souvenir de mon grand-père et de ma mère.
J'ai 58 ans née dans l'ouest de la France issue du Bocage vendéen. Le Vendée Globe (Les Sables d'Olonne) est peut-être connu de vous ?
La couleur qui me rattrape bien souvent pour toutes les saisons c'est le vert et kaki de préférence (un rappel de mes yeux) ! La couleur que je laisse facilement de côté est le violet mais une touche n'est pas impossible.
Je travaille auprès des enfants en difficulté, depuis quelques années dans les écoles élémentaires après le collège et la maternelle.
J 'ai deux enfants. Une fille ainée, LeÏla 29 ans, devenue bergère, jusqu'ici dans les Alpes de Haute Provence mais en partance pour la Suisse (Lukmanierpass) à partir de mai. Elle a décroché ce poste parce qu'elle est bilingue et parle allemand. Quand elle ne vit pas sur Marseille elle peut vivre à l'opposé à Douarnenez (Le Finistère) et participe à un chantier sur un bateau.
François a 24 ans étudiant à Rennes et porté par l'image: photographies, clips et cinéma. Il a vécu à Londres il y a 3 ans.
Alors Corey, avez-vous retrouvé cette journée où le jaune vous sied comme une merveilleuse couleur faites pour vous ?
Posted by: Jeanne-Renée | 21 February 2021 at 06:49 AM
Leigh
In my second coming/coming of age.....emerging butterfly
At peace and seek beauty in daily life. Living in what feels like an alternate universe in a community Covid free paradise at the bottom of the world.
I never wear red but eternally search for the unattainable perfect red lipstick.
Love wearing all shades of green, natures gift.
About to enter another Autumn, my favourite time of year....promise to come
Close friend to my amazing mother and most experienced sibling of a sister and a brother....robbed of my father 16 yrs ago but will all eventually meet again.
Posted by: LeighNZ | 22 February 2021 at 05:40 AM
Old woman. Family matriarch. Writer. Tutor of any grandchildren needing help with advanced mathematics. Loves grandchildren, chocolate, and overcoming challenges.
Posted by: Linda Piazza | 22 February 2021 at 06:09 PM
Marilyn
age 77 (and like another said "how the heck did that happen")
Present feeling is on a holding pattern, waiting for hugs.
Oldest child of one sister and one half sister and two half brothers.
Those halves didn't know they had two halves until I was 50 years.
Cannot wear chartreuse, but love seeing it.
I always said yellow was my favorite color because when I was growing up no one liked it and all the girls liked pink. Secretly I love red.
Love eating fruit, dried apricots, and chocolate, plus sipping a good cup of tea.
Posted by: Marilyn | 22 February 2021 at 11:22 PM
Di
Age 61
I am the only living member of my family of origin, so I am well acquainted with life altering grief.
I do not wear orange.
I feel hopeful and weary.
My husband brings me espresso every morning.
I pray for eyes to see what a marvelous adventure life is.
Thinking of you with gratitude tonight, Corey!! Bless you.
Posted by: Di | 23 February 2021 at 06:47 AM
Jan
Late 70s... how did that happen?
Married for almost 59 years...
Husband is gentle and kind, but now health problems...
Makes me sad... I pray and hope that he will get better...
Had three brothers, and only one living, who I love very much...
I love the color blue, especially turquoise... that is the
color of my eyes...
Cannot wear yellow, but I love yellow sunflowers...
Two sons, and two dear grandchildren... they are
like sunshine in our lives..........
Posted by: Janice Cole | 24 February 2021 at 09:19 AM
Seasoned widow
Grieving my Daughter
Black
Never plum
Aging is cruel
Matriarch
One older brother,deceased
Posted by: Sharon | 26 February 2021 at 12:21 AM