As a child in Mexico City, I remember walking with my father along the city streets: Paseo de la Reforma, Avenida Juárez, Avenida Chapultepec, Horacio or the streets of San Angel. Perhaps we were just taking a walk near my grandmother’s apartment, perhaps we were sightseeing, perhaps we were shopping or seeking out a good restaurant. And then it happened.
“Oiga don Scipio, ¿cómo le va?”
“Bien, bien, don Antonio.”
“Y Ud. ¿cómo le ha ido?”
Yes, it happened as suddenly as that. All of a sudden I would view a scene played out several times, ones that I remember vividly. They were scenes of back slapping, broad smiles, laughter, eyes lit up and an exchange of greetings in Spanish…a good ole Mexican “abrazo” between two men. It happened more than once when I was with him. Really it was inevitable that he would run into people he knew, since he was born and raised there, and had worked there as recently as ten years previous to these chance encounters I saw first hand.
What I remember was the exuberant reunion of two men. I would wonder who saw who first? How did they recognize each other after so many years? Why the “hugging”? What I would give today for a video of those spontaneous meetings. So I play them out in my mind.
Although I don’t have a video of one of these encounters, I do have this picture of my dad and grandfather walking along a street of Houston, TX. I like it because it shows the energy of their step. My grandfather is window shopping and something along the street has caught my dad’s eye. Such was their demeanor, elegantly dressed by today’s standards as they walked the streets of Houston or their home in Mexico, D.F. My mother explained they were probably in Houston visiting family who had moved there. Judging by the shopping bag my dad is holding they were probably shopping for something they couldn’t easily get in Mexico.
There’s a ticket office behind them. Had they just bought tickets to an event?
Other posts about my dad:
The Story of a Benefactor
50 Stars Sailing in the Wind
Guess What?
The Clock
The End of an Era – What’s Next?
What a grand picture, Georgette! Yes, people definitely dressed more elegantly in those days. ( I won’t even start on today’s “styles”…..)
Seeing old photos like this just sets your mind reeling with all the questions. And sadly, we can’t know the answers.. We just have to enjoy the picture!
I’m glad you enjoyed the picture. With all the pictures you are sifting through, I know you are well aware of the unanswered questions we have. Can you imagine being dressed like that before prevalent air conditioning or in warm, muggy, humid Houston? Yes, that was Spartan dress in those times.
Love the photo, love how vividly you remember those moments of joy : )
In Isabel Allende’s novel “Daughter of Fortune”, her opening paragraphs grabbed me. Allende opened commenting on Eliza’s memory. I could relate so much to that. I have always had a memory for these moments and other family moments. Thank you, Lisa, for reading another family story.
I love that picture and the story. I never tire of sifting through old photos and listening to stories about my relatives. Things seemed so incredibly different back then in so many ways, it’s amazing.
Thank you. I’m glad you liked this. I love this photo because it is candid and has energy, I think.
How cool that you have that. Great story.
Thank you for reading, you all.
Oh the stories these old photos can tell; I clicked on it to get the bigger version – wonderful.
And I loved your narrative; special times with our Dads were special indeed.
MJ
Awww…thank you for clicking. 🙂 I’m sorry the picture is a bit damaged/soiled but it doesn’t sully my memory of those chance encounters. Goodness, am I sentimental or what?
Love the old photo – what a treasured keepsake! Your memory is phenomenal, Georgette … such details!
Thank you for reading, Patrice.
cool memories, and a great photo of two dapper men! 🙂
Thank you, TWG. They are rather dapper in a 40’s kind of way, aren’t they?
That photo is one of those that looks like it might be a scene from a movie–the dapper men, the hum of the city, the foreground and the background all come together. And you tell the story so well. Love this.
Thank you, winsome for reading. I love the black and white street photography photos of the ’40’s, ’50’s. There’s a clarity about them.
What a treasure – both the picture and your memory of these two special men in your life. Times were so different as evidenced by the proper dress. Hubby and I were just talking about that recently. How people used to look presentable especially when they were away from their homes. Now? Hoo boy! Anything goes. In most of the early photos of my dad — before retirement — he is always in a suit and usually a hat too. Your photo reminded me of that.
My grandfather died when I was very young. But I do remember a lot of talk about him after he died. I definitely knew he was missed. I guess that goes without saying, however still, I remember how much people reminisced about him.
Love, love, love the photo. Like MJ, I clicked on the picture to make it bigger. I love the look in your Dad’s eye. I see several story potentials with that look. (smile) Thanks for sharing this with us, Georgette.
uh…oh…your mind is working…what stories do you see? 🙂
Wow–Georgette, what a great post and incredible photo. I’d frame this and have it on the wall! What remarkable memories–what a rich life you have had.
Thank you, reeling, the pictures go in albums or I would have wall to wall frames. 🙂 I’m sorry this picture is slightly damaged.
I enjoy watching two men greet with gusto. Our island men often do just that and it gives such a sense of freedom and openness.
Those styles of the 40s…great photo to have. I remember how thrilled I was the first time that a street photographer took a picture of my mother and me in a city. Likely the 50s.
Our house burned and we lost all the old photos. I miss being able to comb through them.
What a tragedy to lose a house to a fire and what a tragedy to lose precious photos. I am so sorry. I imagine you lost the photo of you and your mother that you described. But the fact that you remember probably conjures up an indelible memory. 🙂
It’s interesting you live on an island. My maternal grandmother lived in Sitka, Alaska from the 50’s to the 60’s when she taught high school there. Your frequent island references make me think of her home there. She was the grandmother who sent us her “Christmas crumbs” that I wrote about last month.
Street photography is such an interesting genre of photography. Before video which is so accessible, more so than film, I think those photographers caught action. I’m glad you understand the greeting I tried to capture.
How handsome! And you’re right – the motion of their movement exudes confidence. Don’t you miss the days when people actually dressed up.
If you read The Good Greatsby, I thought it was a wonderful satire he wrote the other day bringing up “casual Friday” and proposing “formal Friday.” 🙂 Maybe the pendulum will swing in the other direction. Thank you for reading, wfm.
YOur story brings up a thought. I could kick myself for not asking more questions of my Mom and Pop. But back then I wasn’t interested. It was a bunch of photos…THEIR photos, not mine. Now that I’m finally curious…they’re gone. I’m so glad you’re capturing every memory.
We still have my beautiful mother and I’m trying to write all I can. She can answer my questions and I can include her comments. Thank you for reading, commenting and your encouragement. Perhaps this year will be the one I collect what I/we have and move on to prepare the family book.
That is an interesting expression on your dad’s face. Great treasure of a picture!
I agree. Something has caught his eye.
Such handsome men! Great picture and a wonderful story.
Thank you, Jeanne.
This is what I like about old pictures — they bring back so much. And provide so much. I don’t know your father and grandfather, and yet the ‘energy’ of the picture almost tells me that perhaps they aren’t strangers.
Also, sometimes I feel that it is in a way good that some memories don’t really have a tangible evidence to carry them forward — pictures or videos. Because the best there is is the memory of those moments. Like the joy of the two men, when they met after a long gap.
Your post’s given me a lot of fodder for a just-smile day, Georgette. Thank you.
I like this that some memories don’t “really have a tangible evidence to carry them forward”. I feel that in what you write…in many of your vignettes photos aren’t necessary; words are enough. Thank you for reading and so thoughtfully commenting.
What great memories, and love the photo. Love the expression and snappy attire. How I yearn to go back to when people dressed appropriately in public. When I see someone at the store in their jammies – their JAMMIES, for goodness sake! – I want to shake them.
Sorry – this is a little off topic. Stopping the ranting now.
You may rant all you want, dear…I’ll call you my alter-ego. Please know I agree with you. Can’t think of a time I haven’t. In all that ranting, rambling or mumbling, you reveal yourself to me as a nice lady, good mom, intelligent and sharp wit. Really liked your response to TGG in his television post. Thought: this alter ego thing, oh dear, I may be “outsourcing” my ego! I’m honored you stop by here.
I, too love the energy in that photo, Georgette. You were so fortunate to have lived in Mexico for a time and to have such vivid memories. Love your stories. Abrazos, Georgette!
Dad and Mom decided to move to the States in time for grade school for my brother and me. Good decision. But I always cherished the visits. Abrazos, amiga.
Love the photo Georgette. And love the story you wrote around it.
There were also street photographers walking along the streets of the town where I grew up and my mother had quite a few of those candid street photos in her album. I wonder what happened to them? oh dear. Everyone was always well dressed and the women always wore hats. I have one photo of my mom with her mother and sister on the boat from India. I must find it.
I hope you can find that picture. Hats! I think I have worn one only once way back when. Now they’re just limited to sun hats for the beach, working in the yard, or outdoor events. I still dress up for church, teaching or attending a downtown symphony or play. Remember dressing up for a plane flight? For that I do dress comfortably in jeans now.
Great photo – and memory, Georgette. 🙂
I have a huge number of old photos and never tire of looking at them. They’re mostly family’s holiday snaps but some of my grandparents and their siblings. I adore old photos.
Black and white is so clear. Since I am preparing a digital book for the family, there will be more photos coming. Thank you for not being bored by another’s family. Color photos didn’t creep into the albums until the mid 60’s. I do enjoy the conversation, Val.