In this picture, Mother is about thirty-four. She’s sitting near Aunt Drexel while they open Christmas presents. Above the mantel are some watercolors my father painted of German buildings. I still have those, plus some of the things on the table next to Mother: the books, a small green ashtray, the brass coasters.
I love seeing Aunt Drexel unaware that someone’s taking her photo. I love the look of delight on my mother’s face. And it’s impossible not to pair that photo with this one of my sister, who was around the same age my mother was in her photo on the Christmas this was taken in my apartment in north Alabama.
Another painting of my father’s (painted for me, so of course I still have it) is on the wall behind her. She’s opening a ring that Mother brought her from a trip she took with our cousins Alan, Laverne, and Elenore to the Bahamas.
These photos really do make me happy. Although Debby’s eagle eye may spot what looks like hand-wringing happening on the left side of the photo. She’ll know that’s me, and it’ll make her laugh.