(Originally Written February 20, 2026)

In all honesty, most of my favorite possessions aren’t worth much on the surface.  I value sentimentality, nostalgia, and family connections.  One of my prized possessions is actually a framed copy of Grandma Reid’s senior picture.  More than anything, as someone interested in genealogy, I love the story behind it.

Let me set the stage:  First, Grandma and I were always close.  I’m not exactly sure why; we just were.  We were always going somewhere.  She took my siblings, cousins, friends, and I on all sorts of adventures, and I’ve always cherished those times. I am so grateful that she was such a huge part of my childhood, and quite frankly, along with my parents, one of my first teachers.

Coincidentally, one of my dad’s first cousins, Lugene, became obsessed with genealogy.  In fact, it rubbed off on me.  Thanks to Lugene, I know so much about the Suszko side of my dad’s family, Grandma Reid’s family of origin.  Whenever I had a genealogical question, I called Lugene. We even served on the board for the Huron Shores Genealogy Society together for several years.

I’m not exactly sure when it happened, but once Grandma’s older sister Kay (Polenz) passed away, Lugene obtained a pristine copy of Grandma’s senior portrait.  It looks brand new, even though it dates to 1941 or 1942.  It even has a 1940s, artdeco-esque frame.  Well, Lugene felt that I should be its rightful owner.  She gave me that framed portrait, which I cherish. It now sits in my curio cabinet with a vintage methods textbook and figurine of a small girl bundled up for winter waiting at a school bus stop, both given to me by my sister Erica, a fellow teacher. It is fitting considering my grandmother’s love of school; even in her last days, her school stories remained. I like to think that she’d love the fact that I now teach virtually from her home.

Sadly, Lugene passed away in September 2016, while Grandma Reid passed away in January of 2017.  They were two of my absolute favorite people, and now I own one simple item that will always hold memories of them both.