Episode 46: Desire and Disappointment

(Above) Shirley Pfoutz in about 1960.

My mother enjoyed a brief flurry of attention from the publishing industry. During that time, some beautiful portraits were taken.

The picture above was shot after four children, a miscarriage of twins, a divorce, and the heartbreak of thinking she'd never get her man. To me, she has the sly expression of the cat who has eaten the canary.

In a more bucolic setting, in Washington, D.C.'s Rock Creek Park, Shirley looks more contemplative, softened by the ruffled sleeves, the long braided hair let down, and the full skirt gathered about her. She almost seems to be pondering her future.

In a few short years, her publishing career will be over, and the love of her life will come around. Desire and disappointment will continue to play a large role in her emotions.