Not Quite Angels

by Margo on December 18, 2009

My grandmother loved Christmas, little girls, angels and irony. I was her first grandchild: her sugar and spice who dutifully wore ruffles and lace, hair bows and shiny mary janes. I learned good manners and how to “be seen and not heard.” She would sometimes tell me I was good as gold. I didn’t object to any of this. Her fierce love made me feel perfect.

Whenever the subject of my own supposed goodness would come up, she would place her hands on the back of my shoulders. She would gently feel around as if looking for something.

“ I don’t feel any wings growing yet,” she would say in all seriousness. The first time she searched my back I remember thinking that sprouting angel wings must be a real possibility. Soon I figured out this wasn’t likely. I wouldn’t understand for a long time that what I was receiving from her was a lesson in humanity.

Today I am pining for a Christmas past when my own not-quite-angels dreamed of angels, princesses and dolls and no one had heard of iPods and xboxes; when once they wore dresses of tulle and Battenberg lace, silk sashes tied at the small of their backs into perfect bows.

At Christmas I will always see them like this …

Dolly and Sparkle, Christmas Card 1999

… in spite of evidence to the contrary. Happy Postcard Friendship Friday! Please visit Marie, The French Factrice for more postal thrills.

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{ 16 comments }

1 Jane Gaston December 18, 2009 at 10:23 am: They are more than adorable! Thank God we have photos to look back on and reflect!
2 Nanna December 18, 2009 at 10:42 am: Ah, beautiful. Sweetheart, they go through a decidedly un-angelic phase, and then they become remarkable women at whom you marvel. I promise. I should know.
3 mobius December 18, 2009 at 11:45 am: life is about the lovely memories.. thanks for sharing this.
4 Christine December 18, 2009 at 11:58 am: Vintage memories are what life’s all about. Thanks for this. Just beautiful. xxoo
5 Christine December 18, 2009 at 12:11 pm: I never get tired of the vintage cards. They have an eternal charm and there are so many different ones. This one is beautiful.
6 Vintage Postcard Gallery December 18, 2009 at 12:14 pm: what a great post…love the part about searching for angel wings! merry xmas!
7 Marie December 18, 2009 at 12:57 pm: Feeling the top of your head… Are those horns sprouting?:) This is a heartwarming post Margo dear!
8 Marie December 18, 2009 at 12:58 pm: I’m drinking a big glass of glass as I read … hiccup!
9 Beth December 18, 2009 at 1:52 pm: What a wonderful post. I loved the postcard and I LOVED the story. Very touching.

Happy PFF!
10 Pricilla December 18, 2009 at 2:00 pm: Awww, such a sweet picture….
11 The Mother December 18, 2009 at 2:24 pm: I am pining for a Christmas vacation before my kids thought I was an idiot.

Except when they need help on a biomed project or a physics paper. I get smart for awhile, then it wears off about ten seconds after they finish.

So far this winter break, I’ve lot another 50 IQ points.
12 Snap December 18, 2009 at 2:50 pm: Wonderful post, Margo. Love the story of you and your Grandmother. That’s what the holidays are all about … LOVE and Memories. Happy PFF!
13 postcardy December 18, 2009 at 5:15 pm: Both the postcard and your Christmas card are very sweet.

Nobody ever told me about angel wings.
14 Lin December 18, 2009 at 9:10 pm: I think we all see our children like this–Little, perfect, angelic, sweet. Even when they are going through their tough times, we somehow see past that and go back to these images.

Sweet photo. Gees, time flies, doesn’t it?
15 Hilary December 20, 2009 at 6:18 am: Aww too sweet. Tarnished halos and all.
16 Ellie December 20, 2009 at 12:27 pm: I love this post. It reminds me of the best of my own mother and her wisdom about our humanity. Thank you. And I love your little/or big angels.