The Found Film Mystery.

I enjoy grocery shopping with other people, and seeing what fun food items they purchase.
I love going to other people’s houses, and seeing the things they’ve chosen to decorate with.
I like to look through old photo albums with people, even people I don’t know, to get a glimpse into their deeper lives.

That’s why, at a thrift store several months ago, I couldn’t resist the curiosity of an exposed, undeveloped roll of film. It was a cheap purchase, and I ran the risk of having something risque show up on the roll, or nothing at all. I took it over to Kerry’s Warwick Photo, my go-to for developing color film, and asked her to process the roll. 

There was nothing scandalous or even particularly exciting on the roll. What I found was snapshots from a birthday party in 1998 at The Lobster Pot restaurant in Bristol, RI. Maybe the photos are a bit boring, but for me they fuel a mystery.

Who is this family? 

What became of everyone in the photos?

The young kids must be my brothers’ age. How much do they remember about this party? Is it a cherished memory or has it slipped their minds?

Would anybody in this family like to have these images returned to them?

The last few shots on the roll are from a baby shower. That baby would be about 26 today. What did they grow up to be? How well did they get to know some of the older folks in these photos?

This uninvited glimpse into a family’s life is anything but boring for me. Questions upon questions. 

Rhode Island is a small place. What are the chances I’ve run into any of these people in my daily life? 

Did they all live happily ever after?