I vaguely remember her. And her dog Puddles. I didn't remember the naked doll until I saw it again. But those saddle shoes? I'd remember them anywhere. They're the ones she was wearing when she stepped on a rusty safety pin. When they had to pull the safety pin out of the sole of the shoe so they could take her to the doctor to have a tetanus shot. It would have been easier if she had been barefoot, the way she always wanted to be.
Me. Forgotten memories. The photos bring some of them back. The photos that ended up in my virtual lap one day. The photos that were carelessly recorded by a brother discarded. Can't I ever get rid of him? 
What if I had let go? They would have blamed me -- just like they always did. I was the oldest, the most responsible, the one who knew better. Still am. Still do.
But it only took "this" long to be slammed back in time. The photos. Is this why photos are so important to me? Is this the only thing tethering me to any memories I have? I am indeed the archivist.
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Comments
Mightily deserved nod from the Editor. FANTASTIC piece.
@Mom -- I can only claim 4th generation and that goes back to late 19th century. Thanks for your kind words.
@Stacey -- "synaptic firings" yes!
@Emma -- You hit the nail on the head.
clever wording. i like it.
you were a pretty little girl and you are a lovely woman :)
In the The Tin Drum. the lead character talks about the preciousness of the family photo albums...It's a convincing argument on value in the context of personal and familial history. Photos charge our memory, and like memory, they are transitory...subject to editing and careful selection. Lovely piece Julie...ox, G
@Bernadine -- Oddly, I remember many of the details now that I've seen the photos, but had no recollection before.
@bethybug and Susan -- The brother thing is worthy of a novel, not just a sentence in a blog, but in another lifetime.
@PF -- As soon as this fuckin' heat breaks!
@Gary -- I know that you understand this. Want to take a week or so and come down and help me sort through several boxes? Thanks for the reference to The Tin Drum. I need to revisit it.
Loved these! (you look JUST the same!)
You were a beautiful little girl.
Very special. I truly enjoyed your post.