Sometimes, a single photograph can hold an entire world of memories, emotions, and history. For me, that world is captured in a snapshot taken when I was just three days old in 1969. This photo is my favorite for reasons that go far beyond the people it depicts. It’s a visual tapestry of love, legacy, and the unbreakable bonds of family.
The scene is a simple one: my mother, radiant at 22, sits on the far left, holding the weight of both exhaustion and joy as a brand-new mom. My great-grandmother, Anna (Hurkala) Marcisak, is at the center, seated and holding me with the careful yet confident hands of a woman who raised children and grandchildren, and lived a life that began in another century. My grandmother, Eva (Marcisak) Dubinsky, stands on the far right, her pride and delight practically glowing through the photograph. And then there’s me, the tiny newborn, cradled in the arms of my great-grandmother—a symbol of the next chapter in a family story that spans generations.
This photo is more than a family portrait; it’s a generational milestone. I was the first child of my parents and the first grandchild to my grandparents. It’s hard to imagine now, but in that moment, I represented the future of our family tree, a fresh branch sprouting from roots that go back to Anna’s family’s brave decision to immigrate to the United States in 1901, she just at the tender age of 14. Just two years later, she married and began a journey of her own, one filled with hard work, resilience, and the creation of a legacy that would include all of us gathered in this photograph.
Anna’s story has always been an inspiration to me. Imagine a teenage girl leaving everything she’d ever known, stepping onto a ship bound for a new country where she didn’t know the language or what awaited her. She built quite a life for herself, raising a family that would eventually grow to include me. Her courage and determination were the foundations of the life we live today, and seeing her in this photo reminds me that I carry a part of her spirit with me.
Then there’s my grandmother, Eva, standing tall and proud. She’s the bridge between Anna’s world and mine, the woman who carried forward the values and traditions of our family while embracing the modern world. I imagine her excitement and joy at becoming a grandmother for the first time, and it warms my heart to know how much she loved and nurtured all of us.
And my mother—the look on her face is one of pure happiness. She was just 22, having her first child, likely overwhelmed by the weight of responsibility and the flood of emotions that come with becoming a parent. Knowing that she was at the very start of her motherhood journey in this photo makes me appreciate her even more today.
This photograph anchors me to my roots and reminds me who I am. It freezes a moment in time, showcasing strong, loving women who shaped my life in countless ways. Whenever I look at it, I’m reminded that I’m part of something much bigger than myself—a family bound together by love, sacrifice, and the enduring hope for a brighter future. That’s why this photo is, and always will be, my favorite.
P.S.
I just can’t resist adding my second favorite photo here, because the men need some recognition as well. My paternal grandfather, David Sten, is on the left, my maternal grandfather, George Dubinsky is holding me, and my father on the right. This photo was taken on the same day as the one above.
