How’s this for serendipity: While visiting a vintage shop in San Jose, I stumbled across this postcard.
Postcard: Mike Roberts photograph of the iconic San Francisco Bay Bridge
The reverse side of postcard | Sunset, San Francisco Bay Bridge
To the average viewer, it’s unremarkable. The card is a reproduction of a photograph of the San Francisco Bay Bridge. Photographer Mike Roberts photographed the bridge multiple times in order to capture this shot. He published the photo in September 1959, five days before I was born.
My family moved to the US in November 1966, and a year later my father painted this oil on canvas. Dad died in 1969.
My dad Eric Milner’s oil painting, painted in 1969, two years before he died
Stumbling across the postcard literally stopped me in my tracks. My heart did that strange flutter as I tried to make sense of the photo. I realized at that moment that a small piece of unknown history grazed my fingertips. The postcard photo had been my father’s muse. I never knew.
Returning home with my friend Kelly, we jumped online and looked up Roberts and his work. From there I discovered this book
Wish You Were Here: Mike Roberts | The Life and Times of America’s Postcard King | by Bob Roberts
Mike Roberts was working on a memoir when he died in 1989. According to his son, Bob:
…yellow Kodak boxes snoozed in my basement for twenty years. For reasons financial, literary, and personal it took twenty years to pull together the pieces of Wish You Were Here. The words and photos were rummaged from his early musings, classic transparencies, and drafts. The rest of the story springs from our family, his friends, media accounts, and those yellow boxes. Enjoy! – Bob Roberts, March 2015
A page from Robert’s book describing the photoshoot
Title page of Mike Roberts book purchased used online
Here’s one more bit of serendipity. While thumbing through my husband’s family photos, I came across this snapshot. Check out the art on the wall!
My husband Mike’s family gathered in front of a painting of the Bay Bridge, circa the 1960s | Mike is wearing the burgundy shirt, lower left
I’ve loved reading about Mike Roberts’ life and work. I appreciate his incredible artistry and his love of the humble postcard. Most of all, I’ll never tire of those serendipitous moments in time, when a daughter stumbles upon an old postcard, bringing forth a snapshot in time.
I wish you were here.
Gardening Nirvana 
What an amazing story that this postcard is such a common thread running through your family! I love your Dad’s version and that it has a place of honour in your now-organized craft space :).
LikeLike
Thank you, Sara! It’s amazing what’s come together over so many years. I often rummage through old postcards in vintage shops, but this one was sitting right on top near the entrance. What luck!
LikeLike
Oh Alys, your last line reached in and grabbed my heart!
LikeLike
Wow! Thank you, Mary, for reading and commenting.
LikeLike
Yep I wish you were here too. That is a wonderful story – these are the hidden mysteries of life that I love to stumble upon – you are good at stumbling too – though no, no, you mustn’t do it in physical reality any more, only in the metaphorical serendipity sense 🙂 That man who bore the name of your husband wove a little bit of magic just for you and your family – so special!! xoxo
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Pauline. Worry not…I’m working very heard to remain on both feet, though my balance is still a bit off. I’ve concluded that the body is not meant to be operated from one side, as I recover and find my hips, lower back and balance are out of wack. I’m really missing my Pilates classes and my weekly stretch, but I soldier on. I hope you are keeping fit and well yourself.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m doing okay thanks Alys – though I will be glad when I can wander about more freely and work my body a little more 🙂
LikeLike
I’m happy to hear, Paulie. More movement will be a good thing. You’ll have cooler weather soon, too, so I hope that means longer walks in the autumn air with your ever-faithful Siddy. He’s such a good boy. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
He is 🙂 We’ve just doubled our walking track the last two evenings simply because we are having such gentle weather it is a pleasure to be out at dusk – long may it last!
LikeLike
Long may it last indeed. I love walking at dusk. Enjoy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Goosebumps and synchronicity!
LikeLike
Yes and yes!
LikeLike
Wow! I can imagine what a strange moment that must have been when you saw the postcard! Your Dad would no doubt have loved the fact that you found the card and the book too. 😃 So you get your artistic talent from your father I guess. 😉
LikeLike
It was, Cathy! I can remember the moment clearly. Thank you for your kind words. I hope you and yours are doing well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
definitely goosebumps – especially when it linked right over to your husband in his young days…
LikeLike
Fun, eh? Thank you for reading.
LikeLike
What an amazing find, Alys. Wonderful how it all fits together. My story of “Portrait Of A Lady” has certain similar elements: https://derrickjknight.com/2012/07/15/portrait-of-a-lady/
LikeLike
Thannk you, Derrick. I’ll be by to read your post as well. I love stories that bring pieces together.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike
Fascinating!
LikeLike
🙂
LikeLike
When we were in SF I bought that picture as a poster for my husband, absolutely love SF. I wish I was there too.
LikeLike
Oh my! Another fun connection to this photograph. Thank you for sharing that, Nana Cathy.
LikeLike
Holy cats! That is quite the synchronicity. That bridge is a strand that is woven through your family on both sides. Wish you were here, too. Or at least closer so that we could visit when we are all vaccinated.
LikeLike
That’s a lovely sentiment, Laurie. I would love a visit one day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, goodness, that would be heart stopping. But so much is connected that we don’t realize. Soon you’ll be back at Pilates, no fear…
LikeLike
Thank you, Lisa.
LikeLike
Wow, how crazy are these coincidences? I hear the theme from Twilight Zone, ‘wheedle-deedle…” 😉
LikeLike
I love that, Eliza!
LikeLike
Oh I LOVE stories like this! Layer upon layer! I wonder how often we just miss the connection, because we were too busy to notice or didn’t ask or whatever. If you hadn’t seen the postcard, or gone there on another day, this story would not have happened. However, that didn’t happen because the card was right there on the top and you noticed it!
I am glad you are keeping well, Alys. All is good here. I am madly gelli printing at the moment ~ it is my new love and my new passion!
LikeLike
Anne, you are so right! I’m always delighted when this happens, and have learned to really appreciate the special moments of connection. I’m glad you are keepig well and I’m delighted to hear of yet another medium for you: gelli printing. I’ve seen at least one or two pieces on Instagram. You are prolific. Sending love you way. xo
LikeLike
Wow! That’s a lot of synchronicity and it did give me goosebumps too. There may have been a bit of destiny as well. It seems to be telling you that it’s all connected somehow. Fascinating.
LikeLike
Thank you, Marlene. xo
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi honey, for some reason the photos won’t load on my computer even though I’ve been by at different times. But I do remember the post card and your story about it. Isn’t it fun!!
LikeLike
Testing
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is what I’m seeing when I visit
and
Perhaps it’s me? I’m not having this happen on any other blog though. xK
LikeLike
Those look like incomplete downloads. I’ve not heard this from others. Perhaps it was just a fluke that day. I left you a long comment to this comment and got the “you can not leave a message at this time” note. I’m going to chalk it up to “WordPress Weird.” xo
LikeLiked by 1 person
Technical issues are the norm right now. I wonder if it’s because the entire population of Edmonton was on the internet, LOL xo
LikeLike
LOL! No doubt. Our access was flaky for weeks, but it seems to be settling down. The same for Sharon at home.
LikeLiked by 1 person