Sheila, I'm so glad you have those treasure troves.
Photographs, especially family ones, are priceless.
When my father died in November 2001, my brother just next to me in age (younger) had some kind of relationship with my father. He had married a second time and unfortunately his wife was/is a cunning and mean-spirited woman.
My brother, somehow...somehow gained some sort of access to some family photos that were denied to us (even some of my mother's) to the family in-general. I now know that that was my father's second wifes doing.
My brother said to my father that he wanted to get some of them and make copies for himself.
HE LIED (thank goodness).
My brother, went through a very painstaking ordeal of photocopying, mostly good quality, pictures of the family, baby photos, and some real old ones: making copies for each of my siblings.
I adored him for that. He was stealth and clever.
I asked him if he'd give the pictures back. He said: "Are you kidding?"
Now I have copies of things I never knew existed: my baby photos, grandparents, sibling photos, and old army photos of my dad's service in the CAF (Canadian Armed Forces). I had a sister tragically killed in 1967, and I finally got a photo of her that I only dreamed of ever having. When I saw that: I almost cried. I got the original.
My father's second wife is a tyrant, she even destroyed some family heirlooms associated with us. With her smoking 3 packs a day, it won't be long before she joins dad. The sooner the better.
Sheila....I am so glad you have the photos. They are an important part of your history and your identity.
Rayzorblades smiles ear to ear for Sheila and family.
