My Brother & I, Summer 1958

My Brother & I, Summer 1958, originally uploaded by confections.

Here's the backstory on this image: it was probably taken by my Dad in the summer of 1958. We were at our cabin in the Pennsylvania mountains for a summer vacation. I finally had a baby sister (after three brothers) and a new puppy.

One of the first rituals after arriving at the cabin was driving up the mountain road to a crystal clear spring with our Dad and bringing back a huge cooler full of drinking water.

On this particular day I had gotten a new balloon, and just moments before this photo was snapped, our new puppy had burst my balloon--and I burst into tears.

Luckily, I had a lollipop (a Tootsie-Roll pop, nonetheless), which helped me get over my disappointment at the burst balloon. My almost 9-year-old brother is putting on his tough Little League game face.

I remember those fun little girls' playsuits with elasticized waists and ties at the shoulder, icons of the 1950's. I'm seven-and-a-half in this photo, about to enter 3rd grade.

Easter Morning in the Mid-1950's

Easter Morning in the Mid-1950's, originally uploaded by confections.

My two older brothers and I with our Easter baskets. The Easter Bunny--er, my Dad--is snoozing through it all.... The photo was taken by my Mom.

Happy Easter!

Cape Cod, Massachusetts, circa 1940

 

Here is an extended family photo of my mother (at about age fourteen and third person from the right) and her siblings and spouses, her nephew, her father, and a friend of the family. The photo was taken by my Aunt Grace on Cape Cod circa 1940. My grandfather (whom I never knew) is sporting shades in the photo and looks for all the world like Van Morrison, the bard of Belfast.

Christmas Morning Circa 1955

Christmas Morning Circa 1955, originally uploaded by confections.

My two older brothers and I on Christmas morning circa 1955.... I'm holding my new Ginny bride doll. That same year, I believe, my brother on the left got a great Lionel train set, and my brother on the right got a Howdy-Doody marionette.

Following a German tradition from my Dad's family, we would put our shoes out on Saint Nicholas Eve (December 5th), and receive treats of chocolate and little trinkets. As we grew older, this tradition faded, but I remember that it was magical in my early childhood.

Happy Saint Nicholas Day!