My elegant grandmother.
This is my favorite photo of my paternal Grandmother. Every time I look at it, I just have a moment of joy.
Grandma was born in November 1898 in New York City. I am thinking that this photo was taken in the about 1918 – 1921. It is definitely before my grandparents married, as I do not see a wedding ring on her finger, and they married on February 26, 1922.
I love this pose! The message I always got from this photo is that Grandma is ready to go and conquer the world. She is elegant. I love all aspects of this outfit from the hat, to the fox stole, to the beaded purse. I especially love the high heeled shoes. Grandma had a long history with shoes!
Grandma was a force to be reckoned with on any topic. And this photo makes me think she was that way as a young woman as well. She is not facing forward like 95 percent of the other photos I have seen. No! She is posed ready to move… elegantly of course.
She married the tailor who worked with her father. She had three children. She worked for years as an executive secretary for a shoe company, which had its offices across the street from Macy’s. (See blog below.)
Grandma worked until she was 77. The only reason she quit was because of a subway accident. She was pushed/shoved on the steps to the subway. She might have been mugged. I believe her purse disappeared that day. She broke her arm in the fall. After that incident, her three, now adult, children said, “Enough! She had to quit her job!” They did not want her taking the subway anymore.
Grandma did not want to quit. But she did in 1975. Part of her willingness to quit might have been the timing. The shoe industry was no longer flourishing, in fact it was dying anyway due to the cheap imports coming from overseas.
When I saw the play Kinky Boots, I thought of my Grandma. I had so much empathy for Charlie and his efforts to save the shoe factory! I remembered how difficult it was for my Grandma as the shoe business disappeared. You would have thought she owned the company!
After she retired Grandma spent much more time knitting sweaters and afghans for her children and grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was a wonderful baker. And always made us great treats. When I was away at college grandma would send me care packages of baked goods. She was an inspiration to me. (See blog below.)
To me this photo is the essence of my Grandma. Perhaps others will see something else in this photo, but to me it is a young woman doing something a bit differently. This photo also reminds me of one of my cousins. She also likes to do everything her own way. And in this profile, I see them having the same face.
I try to imagine what Grandma was thinking when this photo was taken. But more important, I think about who she became and the impact she had on those who loved and cherished her.
https://zicharonot.com/2017/11/22/i-love-macys-thanksgiving-day-parade/
https://zicharonot.com/2014/02/13/knitting-and-crocheting-brings-love-and-memories/
https://zicharonot.com/2015/10/10/12-delancey-street-and-my-family/
zicharonot 
I love that photo—it says so much about her. It says she was independent and had her own mind. And your biography backs that up. What a remarkable woman—so ahead of her times!
Independent and determined! Thank you.