Coloured ribbon on a straw hat
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (377413)
Rockingham, Australia
April 14, 2026 4:09am CST
The world was very different when my mother was growing up. She was born in 1910 and at one stage was working in a department store. She saved enough to buy a new straw hat which had a multi-coloured ribbon around the brim.
When she took it home, her mother made her replace the coloured ribbon with a black one. She must have been in her late teens/early twenties when this happened. She had a really tough mother, who in turn had had a really tough life so you can understand it to some degree. But I always feel sad for my Mum over some of the things that happened in her life.
The photo of a lovely rose was taken by Vince.
14 people like this
15 responses
@JordanLader (7097)
• Sparta, Tennessee
11h
Times have most certainly changed and yet stayed the same. There are still some that would probably replace the muti-color ribbon. There are some that just enjoy color while others will see a meaning.
What's that old phrase or maybe it's just something that's been floating around for a while but it's something like With as much as times change the more they stay the same.
I feel like it's true you just see it differently.
2 people like this
@SIDIKIMPOLE (3311)
• Eldoret, Kenya
12h
That is very nostalgic. Well I am yet to figure out why your grandma made your mum replace the multicoloured ribbon with a black one.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (168525)
• United States
2m
The rose is lovely. My mom was more free spirited and would have embraced colored ribbons, etc. My dad's mom would likely have been more strict. My mom's mom would have liked it, but it would have had to meet grand dad's approval. I have heard he would not let grandmother have a dress that was red or had too much red on it.
@RasmaSandra (96361)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
57m
That is a beautiful rose. Hey, I remember summers hearing straw hats with colorful ribbons.
@Juliaacv (55520)
• Canada
10h
That is such a lovely photo.
The life lessons that we are raised by seem harsh to the next generation, that is true.
I remember my Gramma telling me things about her growing up, and since there was a generation between us, it seemed so unconceivable in my imagination. Yet the basics, how she taught me this or that in the kitchen do resonate with my son, and there is a generation gap there also.
It is almost impossible to understand exactly what drove people of the next generation to say and do what they did. Experiences that they encountered as well as those of their own parents come into play.
@Marilynda1225 (89996)
• United States
5h
That is a very pretty rose 
It always makes me feel a bit sad when I hear stories like you mentioned about your mom. My mom was a bit younger than yours but she had some stories too that made me feel bad for her.
It always makes me feel a bit sad when I hear stories like you mentioned about your mom. My mom was a bit younger than yours but she had some stories too that made me feel bad for her.
@LooeyVille (74)
• United States
10h
My maternal grandmother was born in 1910. She was not old-fashioned at all.
