The Musings Of An Opinionated Sod [Help Me Grow!]

This is one of them …

That’s my Mum.

I don’t know when it was taken, but I’m guessing it was in the early 60’s when she arrived in London to study English.

If I’m right, she wouldn’t have even met my Dad yet – let alone started dating him – which means this is a part of her life where she is literally crossing the bridge between her old life and her future.

I love this photo.

I love it because obviously, it’s my Mum … but also because her body language conveys confidence and excitement.

I am in no doubt she knew she was entering a World of possibilities and she was thrilled by the idea of it.

But there is something else I love.

It’s the man on the top right of the photo looking back at Mum.

Even though it captures a millisecond of an event that happened over 50 years ago, I adore the fact it appears this guy was so taken by this striking and stylish young lady, that he had to turn away from the woman he was in conversation with to look at her.

Not just because of her beauty, but because of her confidence.

And I love that because it’s a side of my Mum that I didn’t really see.

Let me rephrase that.

It’s not that my Mum wasn’t confident in later life, but it was less overt in her body language.

Or maybe I didn’t see it because she was just my Mum.

But I love it.

I love how she looks like she’s cutting a swathe through the busy streets of London.

That she is the star.

That the World awaits.

I wish I could have talked to her immediately after this photo was taken.

Yes, I know that would be very Back To The Future … but it would be amazing to ask how she is feeling, what she is thinking and – most interestingly of all – what she hopes for her life.

I hope she was not disappointed with what she got because she deserved the World.

Miss you Mum.