Before Me: December 1960-January 1961
I've decided that this blog isn't going to be especially structured, am going to give myself the freedom to post random thoughts, photos, memories, whatever comes to mind, whenever the mood strikes me. I think this "format," or lack thereof, will keep me interested and motivated, not bogged down by "rules."
On that note, I'm going to share some of my mom's photos from the holiday season 1960/1961 which I uncovered from her "secret stash." This old album was sacred and mysterious, hidden away in the closet of our TV Room when I was a kid. I would often sneak a peek when I was bored, or curious, spending hours poring over pictures of her as a teenager, her friends, and many, many boyfriends. I was in awe of my beautiful, poised mother, and couldn't imagine having one boy pining away for me, much less the dozens who professed their undying love on the backs of their school photos! She was careful to keep this book hidden from my dad, supposedly because he was jealous, but I wonder now if she just didn't want a little piece of her past tucked away, just for herself, (and her nosy daughter). She shared the names and some of the stories of these loves, but briefly, flippantly. I'd try and try to cajole more details, but she'd clam up with the wave of a hand and change the subject, saying, "That was a long time ago." What I know now, what I learned gradually over the years, is that my mother had a lot of secrets she wasn't willing or able to share; that beat-up blue photo album wasn't the half of it!
But, I digress. For now, I'll just stick to the topic and share these memories along with the details provided by my bio dad and his sister, my Aunt Julie.
"I remember that day! I must have been a freshman in high school. We are in our Aunt Millie and Uncle Dale's basement. That's Uncle Dale in the picture with Tom and Dad. Aunt Millie (Dad's sister) was very artistic and could sew or upholster anything. You can see her sewing machine in one of the pictures. She painted the picture behind the bar and I remember that there was a player piano in the basement. She painted the black keys the same colors as the stripes in the couch. You can tell how impressed I was by all of this. Remind me to tell you about the skirt she made me when I was in Jr. High. Aunt Mildred was Michele's great aunt." ~ Julie Scott Page
So, that's the story of these photos taken about three years before I was conceived. I wish I could have known her then, though I doubt I'd have the nerve to talk to her, much less aim to be her friend. That sounds as if I was/am intimated by her, doesn't it? That would be correct.
~E.Michele
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