a misconception

Recently, I realized that I have all these preconceived opinions of people in my family.
Somehow, when I think about their childhood, I imagine them as they are now rather than how they were. Like my grandmother. When I think about her childhood, I see her in a rocking chair, embroidering a shirt or something. I would never ever see her singing "Chattanooga Shoeshine Boy" in pig-Latin for her school talent show, and winning.

I can't see my Mom sneaking onto the top of a church bus so that when it started, she'd be up there to ride. I can't see my Dad amusing himself by dumping water off a hotel balcony onto the heads of pedestrians.

Recently I found out that my uncle is a potter. A good potter. It was slightly shocking because it just isn't something I would have expected him to do-- he is a 6'4" guy who looks like he played football or something. It shocked me because the picture of him in my mind was different than how it really was. I was talking with him while were visiting at their house and we were sitting at the dinner table waiting for everyone else and I said, "Hey Uncle Randall, did you make that bowl?" "Why, yes I did." "It's a very nice bowl." "Thank-you." I asked about everything on the table individually. He made all of it. He really makes very nice dinner sets.

What it all comes down to, I guess, is that the way the people are now, and the way they used to be, are the same person. Not like, exactly the same, but those characteristics are still there. It's still hard for me to make the connection in my mind, but every once in awhile I get a glimpse of that characteristic from childhood that's still hidden away and it all becomes clear.