Sepia Saturday - Looking back

The big question this week is, why is the gentleman in the foreground turning around, what does he see and is there a beginning of a surprised look visible in his face? I am happy to let you know that I am in a position to answer all these questions and more. How come you ask. Well, it so happens that I met the driver of the truck. The man looked vaguely familiar to me. He insisted on telling me what he had seen in his rearview mirror. He admitted that of course he also had to watch the road ahead and that his rear view was partially blocked by the passenger behind him. But that didn't stop him from noticing a few remarkable things. Frankly, I admire him for his ability to even see minor details while he must have seen those only very briefly. But that is what makes an excellent driver. So when I spoke to the trucker, he said that the first thing he saw was a farmstead. 

Farmstead "Brielzicht" located on the Zandweg, Rozenburg

From his description of the farm I was almost certain that it was the farm that belonged to the grandparents of my maternal grandmother. Their names were Arij Barendregt (1836-1911) and Meinsje Qualm (ca 1839-1894). Rozenburg was an island near Rotterdam. It does no longer exist. The (is)land was needed for the many extensions of the port.

Ber Schregel (l) and my father Johannes Cornelis Miebies

The next situation he described was that of two men on their bikes. It looked like they were going on a camping holiday by bike. The men resembled my father and his friend and colleague Ber Schregel. They both worked for the Ministry of the Interior in The Hague. I believe they are seen here bicycling in the street where my grandparents lived, the Mispelstraat in The Hague. My guess is that it is 1938 or 1939, just prior to WW2.
But there was no end to my surprise.

F.l.t.r. my brother, my mother and my 1st cousin Marijke

My mysterious friend now told me he saw a charming lady walking with two kids in the The Hague Appelstraat. His guess was that it was 1953. His description of the lady was so detailed, that I immediately recognized my mother Johanna Huberta Miebies-de Langen.
Hardly recovered from my surprise, my eye witness winked at me and said he also remembered a sepia spectacle.

An unknown company at an unknown location with my
maternal grandparents in the blue circle

Despite the fact that he gave a very detailed explanation of what he saw, it did not ring a bell. But just when I was about to give up, he told me of this couple in the blue circle. His description was so precise that my maternal grandparents immediately appeared in my mind. Obviously they were part of a travel group some time before WW2. But where? I don't know.
"Speaking of travel", my spokesman said, "the last thing I saw in my rearview mirror, was an aeroplane trying to make an emergency landing. But funny enough it stayed in the air", he said with a smile. 

One of the first air crashes

My mind wandered away to a collection of old airplane pictures that I have. Two of my KLM colleagues saved some 3,000 photo's from the Copenhagen dustmen. And this was one of them. I looked up to my truck driver to explain my connection with this picture. But there was no one to talk to, he had disappeared in thin air. Had I been dreaming? Who was this person? Why did he look so familiar? Why did all these pictures have a connection with my family? Coincidence? Suddenly a shiver ran down my spine. 
And I don't even believe in ghosts...

For more spiritual experiences please have a look at other Sepia Saturday stories.