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Rosemary D'Elia

Sunday Morning Musing



Do you ever wonder about all the stories that have been lost? My mother passed away a couple of years ago, and I lugged boxes of papers and photos from her house back to mine. We had talked about going through them together for years. But children, time, miles and illness took it's toll and I inherited a whole bunch of fascinating mysteries. I spent a summer sorting and labeling photos; I still have a bin marked "Who is this?" for when I can spend time with my 95 year old Aunt. She is the last of my family who would have any recollection of who some of these people are. Oh, I hope we can get together soon.


I found these in with my grandparent's papers. In 1968, it appears that they travelled to Sao Paulo, Brazil and were witnesses to a wedding. The certificate looks original, printed in black with their signatures in blue pen. With the certificate is a lovely postcard book of Limeira, inscribed "Dear Godmother" and signed by the bride and groom. How long were they there? What did they do? Is this family? Is there family in Brazil? I want to know more!!! But there is no one left who might remember. The story is lost. Just a couple of pieces of paper that my grandparents kept for almost 50 years, then my mother kept for a few more. I never saw souveniers of the trip, or heard anyone talk about it.


They must have planned it. Looked forward to the flight. I am sure my grandmother wore stunning outfits and the coolest sunglasses. Was it a glamorous trip? Where did they stay? What did they think of the food? What were the parties like? Did they fondly remember the trip? Was there a "drunk uncle" story from the wedding? Lost, the story is just lost.


And does it even matter?



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Michele Skinner
Michele Skinner
Apr 12, 2021

it's so sad that we don't think to ask for more stories when we are able, and only find out about the ones we truly wish to know more about when it's too late. i hope your aunt is able to fill in some of those amazing empty spaces!

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Nicole Cormier
Nicole Cormier
Apr 12, 2021

I love a good family story. I hope you solve the mystery!! 💗

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Kim Switzer
Kim Switzer
Apr 12, 2021

I *do* wonder about the stories that have been lost. I wonder a lot. I wonder about how and why my great-grandparents came to this country. I wonder about what their lives were like when they got here, what my grandparents' lives were like as children. I know little tidbits of that, but not very much, and now there's no one left to ask. I really felt that question so much.

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Forgotten Muse
Apr 12, 2021

I can totally relate to this so much. I have a box of photos that I don't know who is who. There is no one left who can identify the people in them. I'm trying to remember stories that my grandma told me, so that I can maybe try to write them down. But she is gone now too and oh how I wish I had recorded our conversations about the past. Or at the very least took notes. I have copies of my great grandparents birth certificates which is truly precious to me. The stories matter! To you. To me. And maybe someday those that come after us. But yes they do matter 💗

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