Key of Heaven

Susie, did you know your grandmother Agnes at all?

No, she’s a bit of a mystery. She died so young. It wasn’t until my own mother was dying, and cried out in the night for HER grandma, that I realized… huh, mommy didn’t know her mommy either.

Was there an inheritance?

You must be joking; these people were picking up grains of government rice off the street, they were so hungry.

But weren’t they farming people?

Yes, but they lost the farm; I would hear my relatives talk about “losing the farm” and I don’t think they were the only ones- I think it wiped out a whole generation of self-sufficient Irish.

So what did they do?

The one thing I know about my grandmother is a really glamorous thing… and you know what? You’re right, I do have an inheritance! All her photos!

Her photos? What do you mean?

No no, I’m just getting excited, they’re not your average photos. They’re photos of the first movie stars.