A Boy's Boat

Without further ado, the first photo:

Forgive the unoriginal title. I'm sure another will emerge as I write the story. 

As I'm sure better titles will come to any other writers inspired by this photo.

Let the stories unfold... 

The Missing Sister...

As a kid, my family traveled extensively across the U.S. -- our parents packing all nine of us kids into a 1967 Dodge van (with beer cases stowed under the seats to serve as suitcases) -- and I picked up a postcard (or giant pencil) from every state we passed through.

Those cheesy pencils quickly lost their appeal as I grew. With souvenirs out the window, I relied on photos alone to remember my journeys. 

Only I'm not big on being photographed, so I ended up with a bunch of less-than-exciting shots of architectural icons and pastoral scenes -- nothing personal to remind me of a journey's adventures.

Then, on a trip to San Diego for my 25th birthday, I found myself wandering into an antique shop and stumbling onto my new vacation tradition. 

On every excursion, I now purchase a small antique from a local shop -- preferably with a direct connection to the destination.

While exploring that San Diego shop, I happened upon a box of old photographs -- and inspiration.

Perusing the snapshots of long-gone guys and gals, I found myself wondering about their stories. That the photos were now tucked in a dusty corner of that antique store indicated that these people were as forgotten as their photographs.

But I was intrigued by the mysteries visible in each image. Especially by the portrait of a young, bare-shouldered lady with her Mona Lisa smile. 

An image labeled simply "Sister Sadie."

I purchased the photograph -- along with a handful of others -- intent on writing a short story inspired by the portrait. 

But time and life had other plans.

Over the years the image was misplaced, but the desire to write vintage photograph-inspired stories lingered in me.

For a time, I swore I wouldn't launch this project until I recovered the image that inspired it. However, my collection of old photographs has grown, and there are numerous stories within just clamoring to be told.

Although I still hope to find Sister Sadie someday (perhaps tucked in some forgotten book or box), it's time to begin the project she inspired. 

Each month I'll post a vintage photo, to be followed a week or two later with the short story the image inspired within me.

If you're a fellow writer, feel free to imagine the past with me by writing (and even posting) your own snapshot-inspired story.

As for me, I cannot wait to discover what my imagination might create from these images...