The 4th anniversary of my mom's passing is fast approaching, and I find myself spending more and more time going through her memorabilia, trying to sort it all out. I knew her all my life, and yet, as I look at her old photos and clippings, I see that I did not really know her at all. It has been, by turns, fascinating and frustrating--fascinating, as I learn more about this stubborn, spirited and determined young woman, frustrating that the real stories are forever lost to me.

This is yet another photo from that collection. It is different from the rest in that my mom is not in it. Rather, she is the photographer. After she completed her nurse's training, she and some friends traveled to Bermuda where they gained employment at the local hospital. I cannot know for certain, but this photo had to have been taken on one of their days off. Living on a tiny island paradise, they must have spent many a carefree afternoon at the beach. Lifelong friendships were formed here, and I no doubt met some of these women in their later years, although I cannot identify them in this photo. So, why make a page with a photo that does not include my mom? I think photos can tell us almost as much about the photographer as they can about the subject of the photo. This is how she saw her friends, her boon companions, and by extension, it lets me see a little bit more of her.

Journaling reads:
"Mom and her friends are enjoying a day off from work and spending it at the beach. I imagine they enjoyed many such days while they were all living and working together in Bermuda. I love this captured moment of carefree youth! Their joie de vivre fairly radiates from this photo."

Okay, now, everyone join me in singing the chorus to "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!" Ready? A one and a two...

Credits
Anna Aspnes
ArtPlay Palette Find My Way No. 2 (overlay) http://www.oscraps.com/shop/product.php?productid=27641&cat=0&page=2
ArtPlay Palette Sunshine Boquet (paper used with hispster plume mask) http://www.oscraps.com/shop/product.php?productid=27682&cat=0&page=1
Artsy Layered Template No. 45 (red brads) http://www.oscraps.com/shop/product.php?productid=29518&cat=0&page=1
Hipster Plume Fotoblendz Clipping Masks No. 3 http://www.oscraps.com/shop/product.php?productid=28090&cat=0&page=2
LableTransfers No. 1 http://www.oscraps.com/shop/product.php?productid=27136&cat=0&page=1
LoopDaLoop ArtStrokes No. 1 http://www.oscraps.com/shop/product.php?productid=27868&cat=0&page=3
PunchedFrames No. 1 http://www.oscraps.com/shop/product.php?productid=29527
Scripttease Friends No. 1 http://www.oscraps.com/shop/product.php?productid=29259&cat=0&page=1
Weathered Neutrals Paperie No. 1 http://www.oscraps.com/shop/product.php?productid=28470&cat=0&page=1

Thanks for stopping by!