1965 Continues

Here are the second batch of Reel 6 photos.  My brother Fred is the star of these.

Fred graduated from Bethlehem Central High School on June 28,1965.

In September 1965 Fred started at Syracuse University.  All freshmen were greeted by the 'Goon Squad'.  

My Dad wrote on the original slide for this photo "Fred obeying order to 'Tip It!'".

Fred and his roommate Jerry in their dorm room.

The Odd Slides of Reel 6

Reel 6 is the last reel of family slides in existence.  It contains an odd assortment of pictures.  There are quite a few from 1965, a fair number from 1966 ... and then there are photos from one day in August 1972.  I feel completely certain there are no slides to be found for the missing years.  Personally speaking, those missing years  (1967 - 1971) were pretty significant.  I was 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 during those years.  I went from Junior High to High School graduation; I could drink legally (18 in those days); I started college; I voted for the first time; I was a hippie, dressed like one most of the time and participated in peace marches some of the time; I had friends (some since childhood and some I met at college orientation -- they were the first people I had ever met from Long Island),  I worked my first real job (defined as one that provided a real paper pay check); my hair was long and straight and sometimes I had bangs and other times not; I discovered F. Scott Fitzgerald and I have not stopped reading since ... I had breakfast with Arlo Guthrie!  I did stuff and I have no photographic evidence.  I know of some (really very few) print photos from that time but not for every one of the missing years.  In today's world we take pictures every day.  So it's hard to remember (or for the latest generation it is perhaps hard to imagine) that there was a time when an entire year (or 5) of your life would never be captured on film.  Then again, in today's world, maybe we would all be better off with a little less photographic evidence.

So here are the first photos from Reel 6.  Karen's first teaching job was in Hartford, Connecticut.  Here she is with her roommate in April 1965.

  These were taken June 27, 1965 at Elizabeth Park in Hartford. Mom, Dad and I were visiting Karen.

Karen, me, Mom

Karen and me

Dad and Mom

I will soon post the rest of Reel 6.

Sunday Skyping with Rosie

Rosie is a bit under the weather again - such is the fate of a toddler at this time of year.  (Or maybe such is the fate of a toddler's parents.)  But she was adorable as always and is interacting with me more and more via the magic connection of Skype.

When I was in Portland this summer I occasionally called Rosie "Princess Pumpkin Pie" - I think for no reason other than the alliteration factor. So when I found this Sweet as Pumpkin Pie shirt I had to send it to the Princess. She knows the refernece and gladly points to her shirt whenever pumpkin pie is mentioned.

When I asked Rosie how she was today she said, very clearly, "Happy!".  Needless to say that answer made Gromma happy.  

She came close to the screen and chattered away as if having our own little conversation was her intent.  We soon started showing each other our tongues -- we were both quite amused.

Here Rosie is showing me her teeth.  Yes, I showed her mine in return.

I love this picture of Meara and Rosie -- so sweet.

Gromma loves you all!!

Sunday Skyping with Rosie

Rosie was feeling much better today than she was last Sunday.  Today she was far from subdued.

She started out quietly enough sitting with Gus.

Gus and Rosie showed me these 2 towers that she built earlier today.  Each tower is of equal height and each block is placed so that each side of the towers is a single matching color from top to bottom.   

After showing me her block towers Rosie rested a brief moment.  Right after this she became very silly.

This is Rosie walking backwards.

In this and the next picture Rosie is walking in circles; spinning her way closer and closer to me.

This is Rosie, still spinning, and now laughing very hard because she is just having a lot of fun being silly.

Gus had to catch her because she was making herself dizzy.

What a great visit.  Lots of fun for everyone.

Arlo

Yesterday morning while driving north to Chestertown the radio station that was playing gave its listeners a truly wonderful Thanksgiving Day gift -- they played the complete 18 minute version of Arlo Guthrie singing and telling his story of Alice's Restaurant Massacree.  There was no shortage of videos to access on YouTube; it is indeed a Thanksgiving tradition.  So if you haven't heard this in awhile, here is a version from the 90's that provides good, clear sound.  And if you have never heard this than you really should take the time to listen.



I especially love listening to this because I have a really nice memory of Arlo from maybe 3 years after Alice's Restaurant was released (1967). On August 29, 1970 my best friend Patience and I went to see Arlo (and Judy Collins) at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. While at the concert we met a friend who knew someone in Arlo's band, and he knew that the band would be going to Caffe Lena in Saratoga after the concert, so that's where the three of us headed.  Sure enough Arlo and his band got to Lena's an hour or so after we did.  They played a lot more music and it was amazing.  So we stayed and we stayed and sometime around 3 in the morning it was just the band and Lena and us sitting at a big table talking.  Lena made everyone a huge breakfast and we all talked some more.  I think we finally drove back to Delmar around 5 that morning.  Our parents were furious but even they understood when we told them we had breakfast with Arlo Gutherie.  I mean how cool is that.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving 1960 

I wish you all a Thanksgiving that is as much as fun as sitting at the kids' table.

Sunday Skyping with Rosie

Rosie is not feeling great again so she is a bit subdued but so very sweet.

Rosie showed me all of the dogs on her pretty new dress.

Then she decided to bring a book into the big chair so she could read to me for most of our visit.

She took a brief break to show me her nose.

I didn't get a wave today but she did say 'Bye' which was even better.

Sunday Skyping with Rosie on Monday

Last Sunday Rosie was sick so we couldn't Skype.  This week she is feeling healthy and happy again.  It was a busy weekend (Happy Birthday, Mary Ann!) and today is a holiday for Gus, so a nice relaxed day for Skyping.      

 

Dad proves to be the perfect bouncy-bounce for Rosie.  I wish you could hear her laughing as she jumps.

Bye everyone.  (I got another wave goodbye today but I wasn't fast enough to catch it on camera.)  Can't wait for next week.

My Mom

My Mom died on November 11, 2003.

For many years our family spent every July at Cossayuna Lake.  We all loved it but I think maybe Mom loved it best of all.  It was the one place where she completely relaxed.  And that is how I like to remember her.

July 1959.  Mom could float for hours - it was like her secret power.

July 1962

July 1966

I'm sure there is a lake in Mom's part of Heaven.

Busy, Talkative Rosie

Gus let me know yesterday that Rosie is sick so there will be no Skyping today.  Fortunately a short time later Meara sent this video which is almost as good as 'being there'.  Actually better because it comes complete with sound so that I can now enjoy her chatter whenever I want.  Don't you just love the fish on her butt!