ThrowBack Thursday: way back, like 1934

I used one of three images to make a scrapbook page this week. If I were to do it over again, I'd make the image more pronounced but this way fit with the style of the page. I'm not sure that I'll do this page over again but I do want to scrap all three images on one page.

Here are the three images with three girls. None of them are my mother and I'll say she was the one taking the photos. In April 1934, my mother would be 16 and turning 17 the end of May. If these were her friends, they certainly look much much older to me but they would have been more adult than teenager back then. But look, the middle one is doing the same silly rabbit ears behind her friends.

Smokers all. I wonder which one(s) of them developed lung cancer.

Here's a variation of the hands on hip shot that teenage girls still do and still look dorky.

I'm glad I didn't live back then, even if life were simpler. I have no doubt it was harder.

TBT: Pennsylvania Summer of 1967

These are some of the photos I had not seen for over 30 years. This set surprised me quite a bit as I did not recall coming back to Maryland from Texas before my 1st son was born. Good thing I didn't go into labor here because then he wouldn't be a Texan! I am with my father, my tall father who was 6'4 and I was considered tall at 5'7. Believe me, I never never wanted to be short.

Since the sign up on the right says First Bank of York, one might think it was York but if I recall correctly, we often met up with the Tamaqua crew in Harrisburg. Why these meet ups? My Nana alternated her time with my parents, my Aunt Florence in Tamara, and my Aunt Ruthie in various places over the years - the Philadelphia  area,  Upper Montclair NJ and at this time, probably Towson MD.

From left to right we have Nana, my Aunt Florence's sister Mary McGee and I'll have to leave the man for my cousin Joe to identify. I suspect it might be Florence and Mary's brother Jerry.

My mother finally got in a photo! though my father was the main photographer in the family until I took over that role. I loved that dress though blue was not my best color. btw, most all my maternity clothes were made by my mother and grandmother and true to form, I almost always balked at standing on the kitchen table so they could hem them accurately! My head almost hit the ceiling in the kitchen but still I just hated that part of the process. What a spoiled thing I was! The green dress my mother is wearing was mine and I think it was Liberty of London lawn, fabric we bought  in England back in 1965. Such a fabulous feel to that fabric. 

Isn't it amazing how little details stick in your memory from old photos!

Wordless Wednesday: Pennsylvania Lavender

This is...

...my favorite childhood memory. This week's theme comes from Danielle at TeacupsonTreetops. Thanks for a sweet one.

I truly don't think I have almost any toy, possession etc still around from my childhood so I have to go with a memory.



My Lithuanian grandfather used to take me mushroom hunting in the woods across the street from the house where we lived in Pennsylvania. My grandparents lived in the other half of the duplex next door. I was under three when this happened and I'm sure my Nana was glad to have me out from under her feet since my grandparents were raising me while my mother worked and my father was a soldier during WWII. (My mother worked in Philadelphia and only saw me on the weekends when she came home.)

I can remember the light thru the trees and the smell and sound of walking on decaying leaves and twigs. PopPop knew the mushrooms well and I wish that talent had been passed down to me. Alas, he died when I was 3 yrs old and that is also the first time my heart was broken. There is a certain autumnal light that can surprise me with this memory on occasion.

I still love mushrooms in any shape or form! Want to see what others treasure? Check Angela's list at Three Buttons.

This is...my mother

ML 1934
Originally uploaded by redazadi

This is my mother.

And this week's meme theme comes from Zoesquid

I like this picture because it shows a part of her I never really knew...the carefree young woman who still had dreams and possibilities ahead despite the harsh realities of growing up in a coal mining town. The unpainted siding of a company owned house didn't snuff the sparkle in her eyes.

And advice? I don't really recall any, but it's probably because I always had a 'fast' mouth. I suspect she may have given advice..hesitantly and anticipating my own quick retort....because I know she often said, "I'd slap those teeth down your throat if they hadn't cost me so much money to straighten them!!"

My mother died of cancer when I was 37.
I love you Mommy. And thank you.

More takes on this theme can be found over on ThreeButtons blogroll of players.