Sunday, September 27, 2015

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.

Page 28 - Halloween 1961
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.

Page 29 - Halloween group 1961
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!

Page 29 - Bruce still here too 1961
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.

Page 29 - Deb is 7
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!

Page 29 - Deb is 7 group

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.

Page 30 - Mommy after Dougs birth
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.

Page 30 - Cary writes letter 11_28_1961
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.

Page 30 - Debi writes letter 11_28_1961
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!

Page 30 - Sing Along 1961
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!


4 comments:

  1. I always hate when you come to the end of an album. I love your sister's Girl Scout (or Brownie) uniform. Maybe you thought using a pen was more grown up - that's how to show-up the big sister.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I didn't know you had a collie. What a beauty---makes me miss mine even more. We had two, Zapper and Cassie. Cassie's the one we had to put down this summer.

    As I said on Facebook, I am sad to see the family album end. I really enjoyed reliving my own childhood through yours!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Debi,

    I want to let you know that your blog post is listed in today's Fab Finds post at http://janasgenealogyandfamilyhistory.blogspot.com/2015/10/follow-friday-fab-finds-for-october-2.html

    Have a wonderful weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wonderful photos, Debi. I love wandering through family albums! My grandkids almost always open up the cabinet where our albums are kept, and start flipping pages, wanting to hear stories, who's who, where, when... Digital just doesn't have the same connection! Lovely post. (love your dog, too!)

    ReplyDelete