How well do you really know your grandparents?
Sure, you know your grandma likes to knit cute sweaters and play bridge with her friends every Tuesday night. And grandpa likes to watch documentaries on submarines before maybe playing a round of golf or chillin’ on the front porch. But what did they do when they were your age? Chances are—something WAY cooler than you have ever done.
Here are 15 times people found old photos of their grandparents and realized they’re SO much cooler than they ever imagined.
Don’t underestimate your grandparents. They’ve seen and done way more than you have so far.
1) “My Grandmother, 1940s”
Wow, grandma looks like a movie star! They just don’t make old-school glamour like they used to.
@middlefingerpuppet:
“I knew from the moment the dame walked through the door she was trouble– trouble with a capital T. She was what I call a “coffee pot client.” Too hot to handle but boy, does she perk you up.”
2) “My grandfather the day before he shipped out with the Marines, 1941.”
Yowzers! He won’t let me stop looking at those smoldering eyes. Was everyone a massive heartthrob back in the day?
“Lots of girls would like to get a time machine, go back in time, and become your grandma.”
3) “My grandmother right after she ran away from communistic Bulgaria to Germany (1978).”
I think this gorgeous woman may have been the inspiration behind ZZ Top’s “She’s Got Legs.” What an absolute stunner!
“I’m imagining this woman crossing through Check Point Charlie hidden in the trunk of a Trabant and the first thing she does is hop out and do this photoshoot for Chanel.”
4) “Photo of my grandfather exiting his plane after getting shot down.”
Dear Betty: Plane just took a nose dive into the ocean. No biggie. I took my time escaping from the raging seas so I could casually pose for a picture like a boss. Hope you like, sweetums. Love, The Man.
@gettingthere52:
“From what my dad told me was that when his plane was shot, it was leaking fuel so he had the ability to escape from fire. He tried to make his way back to ship but fell short and one of the photographers on the ship snapped the photo.”
5) “My great grandfather gave Einstein violin lessons.”
Now, this is one cool snapshot! It’s not every day you get to hike your pants up to your chest alongside one of the world’s greatest minds.
6) “Grandma sent me a picture of my grandpa at my age to make me feel like shit.”
Don’t you feel strange looking at this very buff, nearly naked man that is now someone’s grandpa? There are some mixed feelings right there!
@geetarzkool:
“Grams and Gramps were bangin’ like bunnies. Ewww…… Then again, can you blame her? But still, ewww……”
7) “My great grandfather showing off one of the horses he trained for World War 1 – Petawawa, ~1922”
I’m not sure how you can get any cooler than Lawrence of Arabia riding horses through flames. In fact, don’t even try. You’ll lose.
@didiams:
“Looks like he’s trying to escape an evaporating world.”
8) “I recently lost my grandmother to cancer. This will always be one of my favorite photos of her.”
From now on, this is going to be everyone’s favorite photo of your grandmother. She was certainly one foxy lady back in the day!
@MasInMancy:
“My grandfather just looked over my shoulder and saw this and said, “Hubba hubba.” You have the Bamps seal of approval. Congrats.”
9) “My very cool grandpa in the 1950s holding a fish, smoking a cigarette, with a book tucked into his pants and cigarette pack in his sleeve.”
Gotta love the men of the 1950s. They have a way of making dirty white t-shirts and packs of cigarettes look good!
10) “My favorite picture of my grandmother. 1942.”
Being a single mom isn’t easy, but women of that era were incredibly strong and courageous. They had to be – divorcees were shunned, there were no shelters for those running from domestic abuse, and daycare was pretty much nonexistent.
“She’s strong, raised six children on her own after leaving an alcoholic husband. Worked 7 days a week as a cook in a gas station from 3 am – 5pm. I would stay every weekend with her and sleep on the floor of the gas station back then. She’s amazing.”
11) “This photo always puts a smile on my face. Our 86-year-old grandmother back in the day.”
They don’t make flight attendants like they used to! Their classy uniforms were something else, too. It was first class all the way!
12) “My Finnish grandfather smoking a cigarette and holding a wild fox that he befriended. (Circa 1975)”
How in the world do you make friends with a fox? You don’t. Not unless you’re this uber-cool Finn.
13) “My Grandma as an Air Traffic Controller. She would have been 97 now.”
Wow, she was a total dame! Even the way she holds that pencil in her hands says “I’m too cool for you.”
MtStAsshole:
“Your grandma looks like the kind of woman who would have seduced a private investigator and then shot him when he fulfilled his purpose…compliment, by the way.”
14) “If I could only be half as badass as my grandfather this Memorial Day, c. 1960”
I think I’ll just put my cute tiger cub in this backpack and go for a walk. All the chicks will dig it!
@HATEPRIDE:
“Your granddad was SF [special forces]. Regular conventional troops wore OD Green uniforms. That tiger stripe uniform was experimental at the time, and was issued only to SF/LRRPs and ARVN SF. Just by seeing the uniform I can tell your grandad was a physically and mentally tough man.”
15) “My great grandmother, working as a welder during WWII”
Only a woman from WWII can make welding look so sexy. She almost looks like Rosie the Riveter, but cuter!
@itsakidsbooksantiago:
“My grandma was a welder during the war too! She loved it. Said it was just like sewing.”
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