Family Photos – The End of the Story

I continue to go through photos, albums, and other family items in order to document things for future generations.  Next up, a family photo album that was stashed away in my parents’ home.  To start from the beginning, click here.

So I’m down to the last few pages of the family photo album.  What fun it’s been to reminisce about my childhood and the photos have brought back so many wonderful memories.  I’ve shared some of these photos before but in the interest of documenting the photo album in its entirety, here we go.

Halloween 1961

Out of all of the Halloween costumes we had, these were the most memorable.  In fact, they might be the only two that I really remember.  While that cannibal costume would not be acceptable today, it was pretty cool back in 1961.  So cool, in fact, that I was the second sister to wear the costume.  And I will never, ever as long as I live forget the chicken bone tied at the top.

I really don’t know for sure about the rest of the kids in this photo.

I’m pretty sure the “baby” standing on the right is our dear next door neighbor, Mary.  She was almost exactly halfway in age between my sister and me so we did a lot together over the years.  The clown looks familiar (Karen Z perhaps?) but I have no idea who is on the right or what she’s dressed up as.  Maybe these were friends of my sister?

But the bench that they’re sitting on holds a lot of memories for me.  I think it is the gliding bench we had that, at some point, was re-covered and was in the house when we cleaned it out in 2013.  I remember sitting on that bench as a new 7-year old big sister in my brand new, fancy schmancy nightgown holding my baby brother.  All of a sudden “URP” – and I had baby vomit all over my nightgown!  So I did what any 7 year old would do and pitched my baby brother across the room so there would be no chance of more stains on my nightgown.  Thank goodness Mom was there to catch him!

Bruce still here, too

I think Bruce was the first dog my parents owned and he was definitely the first dog I remember.  He was so good with my sister and me but not so reliable near other kids.  So when my brother was born in 1961, a separate fence was installed in the back yard so Bruce would have his own area and we wouldn’t have to worry about little brother.  He sure was a pretty dog!

At this point Dad got a little out of order – he must have just been trying to even the photos out on the pages.

Deb is 7

Geez, looks like I’m flashing a gang sign or something – I wish I knew the story behind that!  And where are my teeth?  My favorite cake has always been chocolate cake from a bakery with white frosting – looks like that goes back a long way.  Yum!



And here’s the group!  I think I can identify everyone in this photo – a few of whom I am still in contact with today.  This means you, Mary K. and Debbie B. 

It’s fun to see the room - while not much had changed since that day in 1961, so much had changed.  For those who were in the house in later years, the window on the left was turned into a book case during the remodel in 1962 so that the area behind it could become my sister’s bedroom.  And the other window was knocked out to make a step down entrance into a big family room, while the wall with the cuckoo clock became an open area looking onto my dad’s organ.  But I think the desk in the corner is probably the same desk that was there in 2013, and the dining room table and chairs that we’re sitting at was also still there.  Proof once again that my parents never threw anything away.

And here’s where we get out of order because the last page is dedicated to the birth of my brother on November 28, 1961.  My 7th birthday was 2+ weeks later.

Mommy after Doug’s birth

She looks tired but happy!  Back in those days, of course, we weren’t allowed to see our mother while she was in the hospital so it looks like we wrote her letters to tell her how much we missed her.

Girls write their mom at hospital November 28, 1961

Look at all those pencils!  One thing I remember is that we had one of those cool pencil sharpeners that are bolted into a wall in the garage – maybe she just pretended she needed a bunch so she could use the pencil sharpener.  And look at the Polaroid picture – too bad I can’t make out the image in the picture.

Girls write their mom at hospital November 28, 1961

I sure look thoughtful.  Maybe I’m thinking about one day finding these letters - I’ll bet at some point I do.  Wouldn’t that be a hoot?  Looks like I bucked the trend and used a pen!

Sing Along

I have no idea what we were singing along to but I do know this was my parent’s bed.  It must have really been a special occasion to have been allowed to climb in their bed.  And my sister looked so stylish in her hair net!

And with the birth of a new baby brother the family photo album comes to a close.  I hope I’ll run across another installment which would include my brother.  But if not, I have lots of slides that have been scanned but need to be organized.  I’ll just keep plugging away!