Postcards from Grandma/Postcard Friendship Friday #1

by Margo on March 13, 2009

I believed my Nana and Papa to be glamorous. They flew around on Pan American airlines and drank liquor from crystal glasses. Nana’s outfit, purse and shoes always matched – lime green was a favorite color – and she wore big white rimmed sunglasses. She always made it a point to send me postcards. This one was sent from Holland in 1970.

I must have told her I liked cute little rendered postcards the best. This one is presh and all, but when I went to Holland myself many years later, only people who worked at tourist attractions dressed this way. I got over it.

The line, “Tell your mother, all is well so far – but we are too gay – Parties every night…,” evokes bygone time and place. I imagined Nana and Papa going to parties with the queen. Since I never heard differently, I still choose to believe they did. I love the use of “gay.” We don’t use “gay” in that way anymore.

For more Postcard Friendship Fridays, please visit Marie at Cpaphil Vintage Postcards.

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{ 12 comments }

1 MuseSwings March 13, 2009 at 4:07 pm: I’m sure they did go to parties with the queen! It’s wonderful they enjoyed the gay life back when gay was gay.
2 sparkzspot March 13, 2009 at 6:13 pm: Hi friend.. Interesting post.. Nice blog work.. keep it up..
will drop by your site often.. Do find time to visit my blog and post your comments..
Have a great day.. Cheers!!!
3 Chris Overstreet March 13, 2009 at 8:18 pm: There’s not a doubt in my mind that Grandma had tea with the Queen at the very least. The postcards I have that were exchanged by family mean the most to me.
4 Shawn March 13, 2009 at 8:32 pm: Wow, that’s really cool. It does evoke such a fun image. Going to parties, seeing the world, dressing fancy. Good stuff.
5 Evelyn Yvonne Theriault March 13, 2009 at 9:28 pm: Dropped by for Postcard Friday but stayed to read your stories. Thanks for an enjoyable visit!
Evelyn in Montreal
6 The Girl Next Door March 14, 2009 at 2:10 am: Oh this is too sweet and precious. What a great memory of your grandparents.
7 Postcardy March 14, 2009 at 12:57 pm: It is really fun to find “family” postcards that have been saved for many years.
8 Janeen March 14, 2009 at 1:51 pm: Happy PFF! Yes, isn’t this fun! Marie has quite the fan club now. It’s taking longer and longer for me to get through the list and I’m determined to finish up all my blog ready today. ha ha

Your true postcard is just lovely! I don’t have postcards so I post the pictures instead but it is so much fun! I love it and meetng new people like yourself as well. Have a great week!
9 Lydia March 14, 2009 at 10:38 pm: I love that little postcard from Holland! And your grandmother’s message to you….so sweet.

Aren’t you glad you kept things like this?
10 therapydoc March 15, 2009 at 2:57 am: It used to be that gay meant gay, as in happy. You go to a ball and it is gay. I’m reading Anna Karenina and the word is all over the place.
11 lilaphase March 15, 2009 at 3:01 am: Very cool, so cool I will completely ignore the obvious ‘queen’ and ‘gay’ jokes that might diminish the gaiety.
12 Marie Reed March 16, 2009 at 7:21 pm: That is glamorous! How wonderful that you amassed a special collection through the travels of your grandparents!

I’m sorry that I couldn’t visit sooner for PFF! I have been sick sick sick with the flu. I’m finally able to switch on my computer again!