Collage in My Blood

My mom just returned from a family reunion with her cousins . . . 

lugging along a "treasure chest" of antique images.

My mom's cousin Barb had the h.u.g.e. scrapbook that had been put together

by my Great Grandma Ruby.

I could hardly contain my excitement when I peeked into the pages.

She also brought a found Bible for young people

and a bag of sewing patterns from my Aunt Barb.

Oh.My.Heart.

I could barely breathe.

One of the most amazing treasures:

this handmade color wheel.

What a teaching tool!

I just may have found inspiration for my next project!

And the next, and the next . . . 

The pages of the "gi-normous" scrapbook

are completely covered with

images from the late 1890's and early 1900's.

Along with greeting cards and advertisements,

calendars, Sunday school cards, trading cards,

are

handmade

pieces

of

goodness.

Perhaps, did my great-grandma weave these patterned papers?

With her own hands?

She carefully cut out and pasted every image.

Here is her perfect attendance 

Diploma of Honor

from 1906.

One thing that delights my heart

is to see a connection

with a great-grandma

who only saw me as an infant

whom I never knew personally.

Yet right here,

it was as if she knew

how much this would

be enjoyed

by one of her great-granddaughters.

She collaged papers.

That's what I do.

Collage.

My Grandma Marj was a photographer.

And I see how the roots run deep along both sides of my family tree.

It's like the grandmas gave me a present

 to discover far into the future 

that they would not have with me here.

A secret message.

That now connects us.