Family memories weren’t always captured on film.
When I was growing up, we had an old box camera that was used very sparingly. Film wasn’t cheap and developing it was even more expensive. Sometimes a roll of film would last for many months (maybe even years). I can almost count on one hand the number of family pictures taken when I was quite young. While we spent a bit of time coordinating our outfits for our recent family picture, the few family photos I have from my childhood are definitely real, spontaneous, candid, and not always very flattering (Yes, my hair is in curlers!).
While this snap shot isn’t really very clear or focused, it brings back some warm, happy memories for me. (Unlike digital camera photos I didn’t have multiple pictures to choose from.)
Here are my thoughts as I study this picture:
♥ My parents look young, healthy, and kind of classy for a spring picnic.
♥ My hair was curled with little pink plastic curlers we called spoolies. (This was a Saturday night ritual at our house, but I’m not sure why I’m the only one in curlers on this day.) I would also bet I had a red mustache from the drink in my hand. Awkward.
♥ Grandma Palmer, sitting on the back row, was always practical in her dress, with a scarf covering her head for warmth.
♥ It must have been a little chilly and I’m sure grandma insisted on Linda wearing the hat, while my sister Diane, standing in the back, looked cute without any jacket, hat, or curlers. (They must have loved her more…..)
♥ We believed the hill behind us led to the home of a witch and we always delighted in climbing almost to the top before we ran down the hill screaming out for protection. This park was in the tiny town of Smithfield, Utah.
♥ I’m thinking that Grandpa Palmer was the one taking the picture. He was always the selfless one in the background and behind the scenes.
♥ I’m guessing that the picnic might have consisted of fried chicken, creamy potato salad, and maybe toasty hot cocoa in the thermos on the table (or red punch).
♥ Pretty sure we had a fun day!
♥ Too bad sister Julie hadn’t been born yet.
Sisters: Linda, JoAnn, Diane
P.S. Hair after the curlers…..I suspect my frown is from repressed curler humiliation memories.
P.S. If you want to get your own set of spoolies they are still available. Check out this link! They even come with a 100% happiness and lifetime guarantee! (Smiles not always included.)
7 comments:
JoAnne, these are adorable old photos...I love them. And I remember spoolies as well...used them many times! Thanks for sharing your memories!
Your parents do look classy for a picnic. But in those days, everyone dressed up for occasions. We have a photo of my father-in-law sitting on the grass at a family picnic, and he's wearing a suit and tie! Even my mother-in-law looks as if she could go straight to church dressed the way she was that day. Maybe it was better then - now I sit and watch the people in their shorts and flip flops walking past my house on the way to church. I think it's nice to make an occasion out of some things. xoxo
I absolutely LOVE this post. It was fun learning the back story to your pictures. I've seen those pictures before but never heard your stories. I especially liked the part about the witch!
Super cool pictures! I love your commentary about not only the images but of what you were feeling at the time as well. My hair was always braided - no spoolies. Precious memories!!!
You can always recognise a woman who has sisters - there's something about the way -she sees things, remembers them and recounts them. I loved this post - it could have been my family, before my brother was born. I remember those curlers - my dead-straight hair resisted even their sure-to-curl qualities!
I love old photos like these! I do know that we did not have many photos taken growing up, either. I also wore "spoolies!" I forgot that name. My Mother also gave me home permanents--lol--talk about bad hair!!
I love hearing the stories behind old pictures. Such fun memories.
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