Ringlets

The first picture above is of me, and the second is of my sister “Patsy”, as she was known back then.

I love these pictures of us.  They filled me with such warm memories that they brought tears to my eyes.  We were kinda cute weren’t we?  Both dressed alike, our hair in curls, and both with big smiles.

I’ve been sitting here for a while just staring at these pictures trying to figure out why they moved me so.   I know now why.  It is because I can see and feel the love in them.  Maybe you can’t, but I can.

I know a small boy who is going through some very hard times right now.  He is from a broken home, and his current family situation is filled with more pain and stress than any child should have to endure.  He is not in any physical danger, but he is feeling alone, abandoned, and not loved the way a child should be.  It breaks my heart for him.

When I look at these photos of us, I see the unconditional love of parents who were always there for us.  I know how lucky and blessed we were.  I see my Dad holding us and making us giggle.  I see my Mom holding us and comforting us when we didn’t feel good.  I see them both taking us with them to rodeos, dances, shopping, and Sunday rides in the car.

Mom always loved to “dress up” her little girls.  We often were dressed in matching outfits.  I can remember little black patten- leather shoes, with socks that had turn down lacy cuffs and flowers on them.

She always took time to brush our hair with love.  We both had thick, curly hair; Pat’s much more curly than mine.  It tangled easy and wasn’t that easy to work with, but she was always gentle.  She made us feel special, like we were getting our hair done by a hair dresser.  Lots of times we were given braids, or pony tails, which were easier and quicker.  Even then she would add decorative pony-tail fasteners, barretts, or ribbons, that made us feel pretty.  Her favorite way to make us feel pretty was to give us ringlets.  That is what we have in these pictures.  You don’t see ringlets much on little girls these days.  Mom would separate our hair in pieces and brush them around her finger to form long curls.  Then she would usually use ribbons or barretts to pull them off our faces.

We had big smiles because we were happy children.  We were loved very much.  That is what I see when I look at those curls.  Those ringlets…..they represent my Momma’s love.