Invented Family History

Picture of the Day for 9/23/2013. While the family was gathered at my house for my great-niece Hayley's birthday party last Friday, my niece Renee asked me about this picture hanging in the dining room. My response that it was a $20 clearance item from a furniture store liquidating their merchandise was unacceptable to her. Waaaaaaaay too boring. So, here is the revised story I told her:

The young woman in this picture is Maria, an ancestor of ours who was of Spanish nobility (which is how my sister Paula ended up with the middle name Maria). She was an extremely tragic figure who was engaged to Juan Roberto, a general in the Spanish army. Juan Roberto and his army were on their way to meet and repel an invading army. The invading army's general was aware that Juan Roberto would be leading the Spanish forces against him and he was fearful as Juan Roberto's reputation as a cunning and ruthless general was legend. The enemy general captured Maria to torture her for information about Juan Roberto's location and strategies, but he sadly underestimated his captive prisoner's resolve and love for her betrothed. When word reached Juan Roberto that his beloved had died defending his life and honor, he became crazed. He and his loyal men attacked with such ferocity that the invading army was decimated. Sadly, Juan Roberto received a fatal wound during the battle and when his men discovered him after the dust had settled, they found him clutching a miniature portrait of Maria in his hand. His loyal soldiers knew from the smile on Juan Roberto's face that had been reunited with Maria in heaven where the two lovers would never be separated. 

This story was MUCH more acceptable to Renee. Phew!