We all take pictures. Some of us like to be in front of the camera, while others prefer behind the lens. Which do you prefer? I prefer to be behind the lens. What kind of feelings do you have when you go back and look at those pictures? How often do you go back to look at them?

The picture above was taken and put on the front page of The Northwest Blade on February 13, 2014. You can find a great deal of information from newspapers. This article was talking about love stories especially married couples that worked together. The first couple they talked about was my grandparents. Here is part of the article:

“There are advantages and disadvantages of working together, but it depends on the individuals involved. Some say you can’t be married and work together, but others say you can. Living proof that you can are Melvin and Pauline Brinkmeyer who have been married and working together for 60 years this coming June. They own and operate NuWay cleaners in Eureka. “We’ve been together so long, we don’t know anything different,” said Mel with a chuckle. They agree that it has worked well. If one has a function to attend or needs to go somewhere, the other is always there. “We’ve always gotten along good,” said Pauline. They also added that normally, when they go someplace, they to together.”¹

When I look at this picture it makes me a little sad at first. Mel passed away about one and a half years after this article was written and Pauline about one and a half years after that. I miss them everyday. I also feel happy and loved. They loved and respected each other. I do not think they ever fought. Melvin and Pauline might not have always agreed on everything as people do not and they did not go to bed mad at one another.

I think of love when I think about them. They loved each other so much. Their family was loved unconditionally by them both. Pauline and Mel both worked hard and earned what they had. Together Melvin and Pauline owned and operated NuWay Cleaner which was dry cleaning and upholstery service. Melvin usually did most of the dry cleaning. I was shown how he did it a time or two. He let me use the large industrial steam press machine at least once. Pauline did alterations to the clothes if needed like sewing a button on or sewing up a hole. She is the one that taught me how to sew on a sewing machine. She did other alterations people wanted done to their clothes. They also reupholstered furniture.

The more I learn about my ancestors, I have questions about my grandparents and great-grandparents. I want to go to my grandparents and ask so many questions. The time has passed me by to ask questions. When I think of all the time I could have asked questions and did not makes me sad.

When someone says seize the day, listen. Seize the day is a traditional translation of the Latin phrase carpe diem (“enjoy the day”, literally “pluck (or harvest) the day”)¹. Do the things you want to do when there is the chance instead of waiting for a later time. I have been thinking about this lately. Go ask you grandparents, aunts, uncles, and parents questions about their life. You can ask them some of these questions. With the world the way it is right now, you do not know what is in store for you. Start a bucket list, pick one thing off of there and do it! SEIZE THE DAY!

1. Cindy Schumacher. (2014) ” “Work and Marriage” – A Valentine’s Day Feature”. Northwest Blade. February 14.
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