Blog 3725 – 01.22.2026
Faded Photograph of a Familiar Smile
Today’s picture is a faded photograph of two dearly departed people that it was my privilege to meet and to share time with. Cleo was the mother of my second wife and she had one of those bubbling personalities that made her a joy to be around at least until she lost “her Jim.” Cleo’s beloved husband Tommie Jim was the light of her life. When he passed she was never the same. I visited her several times afterwards and her former almost constant smile was rare on those occasions.
The last time I stopped to visit Cleo in Laurel, Mississippi while driving through to visit family and friends in Chattanooga, my hometown, her youngest daughter Robin’s son Bryce was staying with her and he had the power that I no longer did to make her smile. In today’s picture posted yesterday on Facebook by his beloved Aunt Linda to mark the anniversary of his birthday I see the reason that Bryce was able to make his grandma smile and I could not, Bryce so resembles his grandpa Tommie Jim in the picture how could she not smile.
I only met Bryce once, that last time I saw Cleo. Seeing today’s picture brought back a precious memory of the two of them smiling and laughing together and many more of Cleo and Jim beaming at one another.
Every time I see what I call a “smiley moon” I think of the Cheshire Cat in Alice in Wonderland who disappears all but his smile. I was fearful that after losing her Jim that Cleo would never smile again, but thanks to her beloved grandson Bryce she did. Now, I’ve got a picture to prove it.
Yesterday, I entitled my blog “So Sorry For Your Loss” but today a faded photograph reminded me that nothing is ever truly lost, that all our most precious memories are kept for us by our higher best self who loves to see us smile.
Cleo all smiles for her Tommie Jim
Your friend and fellow traveler,
David James White
theencouragingword 