Like Momma Like Daughter

My momma, Susie. I’m not sure of her age in this picture but I think she said she was still a teenager. My Momma and Poppa got together when she was just 14. My dad was also a teenager. They fell deeply, madly in love and had many adventures before they settled down and had babies.

My Momma grew up in Davenport Iowa with her Mother Rosie and Step dad Dick. Young Susie always had a wild but loving spirit, or so I have been told. I find the same to be true of present day Sue Colby.

My folks didn’t have much of anything but my Grandmother (dads side) Mary was an incredibly talented photographer in Walcott Iowa. She had taken over her late husband James’ photo business after his passing. My dad was just a boy in his early teens. After this loss, Dad began spiraling down a well of depression and drug use and sales, eventually finding himself incarcerated and in need of a change. He chose to take up the family business of photography.

This photo was taken after my folks photographed their first school dance. Finally making legit money and feeling proud of it!

My momma always dreamed of being a professional swimmer and Playboy Bunny, which she could have easily done, being born as a perfect female specimen. Seriously she was Gorgeous!!!! Still is. I always paled in comparison. All of us girls did, and we knew it.

Looking back it all fits. This lady started it all and we’re just adding to her story. I’m not a Playboy Bunny, nor any desire to be but… I think I was incredibly inspired by my Momma. Inspired by her beauty and her heart. And yes, I stack and count my money like this as often as possible. It’s vain and ridiculous but it reminds me of where I come from and how fucking hard we all fought to get here. Then, just like my Momna, I divide the stack in half, find a worthy home for contribution of one stack then head to the dispensary with the other half.😂 ok, ok, I do save money for retirement too. Something else I never thought I would be able to do. Often times I get emotionally overwhelmed that I have some stability, emotional or financially. But I do! “So there”, to my past fucked up life, I win! You lose!

It’s a beautiful thing when we are able to spring from our own well of blessings regardless of hardship.

My folks pushed through the hard times, learned deep values, instilled them into us and stand tall weather living in a double wide trailer or strolling the 4 acres of land they now call home. They stand tall. They stay positive no matter the obstacles. Poverty, IRS, bankruptcy, protests, incarceration, personal tragedy, Cancer, the stress of raising a family, etc… they stand tall. Not so tall that they cast a shadow on others, just tall enough to stay joyful and thankful for everything they have. Which is still simple but meaningful. I love my folks, both, so much.

But this post is for Mama Colby, my artistic inspiration. And my fathers forever muse. Always.

Would you like to see her old modeling photos?