My mother turned 80 today, an achievement in itself not achieved by all. The comment had me wondering of life for this woman once young.

From the family album, I chose a photo of a girl just ten.

What hopes and dreams were behind the face, what joys and sorrows of future times? Growing to womanhood, boyfriends, a proposal, marriage, children, grandchildren… Were her dreams met?

Her husband lost so young. Her children grown, her parents lost and siblings gone but two. Her walk once spritely now with cane, I asked her of her life.

“Alright,” she said in typical understatement, “but not always happy.”

This photo is not to be used without direct written permission from me.