Woman finds her late grandpa immortalized on Google Maps in 2012 — waiting to teach her softball

When loved ones pass away, the only thing we have to cling to is memories. For a young woman, Katelynn Oxley, a few pictures she found on Google Maps helped her go back over a decade, to catch a glimpse of someone special, as reported by Newsweek. The person whom she calls her role model — her grandpa — passed away when she was younger. Suddenly, he was nudging his way deeper into her heart through the recently discovered images. She shared them in a post on TikTok, and it boasts a feeling of relief that resonates with many who have experienced grief.

Oxley mentioned that her late grandpa was her role model — a precious and important figure in her journey. "He taught me so many things in life and helped me grow in many aspects. He made me the athlete I am by coaching me and taking me to all my sports events and watching my practices,” she recalled. Little did she know that one such memory would be forever etched in her heart and on the internet. When Oxley hopped onto the trend of finding old pictures of one’s home on Google Maps, she spotted a heart-melting visual.  

Various TikTokers have used the trend to catch a glimpse of their life or the lives of their loved ones from decades ago, per The Sun. Over time, people have used the “Street View” on Google Maps and spotted their deceased relatives and even their childhood pets and friends. A random moment turning into a timeless one has been a winning experience for many. In Oxley’s case, she looked at the pictures to find her younger self with her grandpa in the yard, bonding over football. "I was playing softball in the front yard with my grandpa and little brother. I was hitting and he was pitching the ball when the vehicle was passing," she said.

In her post, the pictures reveal an elderly man and a little girl learning how to throw and pass the ball. In the text overlay, the woman wrote, "And somewhere on Google Earth, it's 2012. My grandpa is still alive and he's teaching me how to play softball." One of the images also captured the elderly man waving towards the street. Having first discovered the image when she was 21, she kept it close to her heart, revisiting it and finding the same love and awe every single time she laid eyes on it. According to a study published by Taylor and Francis, photographs are important assets through which loved ones remember deceased family members.

Even simple pictures of everyday life and random events, like in Oxley’s case, proved valuable for grieving members. "I was so happy that it was still there because those were fond memories of my past," Oxley remarked. Many people were touched by the post and commented. @mikkicz said, “My mom is walking my dog. They’re both gone now but I love that they’re still there on Google Maps.” @tessamcintosh added, “This trend is making me weep.” @lizzieluvbug91 remarked, “Google capturing memories and not even knowing it.”

Lucky are those who get to stumble upon such treasures from the past. You can see the heartwarming video here.

You can folloe Katelynn Oxley (@katelynnoxley) on TikTok for more content on family and relationships.