Childhood Memories With Photos...

I so enjoyed reading my friend, Judy's, list of top childhood memories and seeing her photos.  I have been looking through old photos this morning, and must say that I have so many more than 10 - I could bore you to death!! LOL  Keeping in mind that this is childhood, here are some of the photos and memories I decided to share.  They are not necessarily all my top memories, but are the ones I decided to share with you....

Okay, so I really don't remember this photo, but since all of us probably have a 'naked on a blanket in the backyard' photo, I thought I would post it.  LOL

I posted this one, only because sucking my thumb was a big part of my life until I was about 8 years old.  I was a thumb sucker.

This was taken on my grandparents' farm.  I have been an animal lover all my life!

A little out of order, but these are my dear Willman cousins.  Bobby, left end, is the cousin who was just here with his two kids and two grandkids, for our visit to Legoland.  They were like my brothers and sister, growing up.

Good memories of Mrs. Looker, who was our neighbor.  She had an apple tree in her yard, and would let me pick apples.  I remember leaving May Day baskets of flowers on her front porch, ringing her bell and running to hide!  Of course she knew who did it, but never let on.

My dad built this pontoon boat in our back yard.  It was docked, all summer(s), at Rocky Fork Lake, and we spent most weekends there, where family members joined us for boat rides, swimming, fishing and picnics.  Wonderful, wonderful memories.  In this picture, from the left, my mom, with my brother in front of her, then my grandma holding baby sister Tammy, with middle sister Patti in front, in the life jacket.  Then my grandpa, me, my dad, and my Uncle Charlie.  Aunt Mabel must have taken this picture.

A neighborhood production of the Wizard of Oz.  I was Dorothy (tall blond in the back).  Our neighbors had 10 kids in the family (eventually, 12) and I spent lots of time at their house, playing.  Their mom, Joanne, wrote the play.  We rehearsed it for days, and finally had show day.  We charged everyone a nickle to watch!  LOL

I mention her frequently in my blogs, and she reads my posts by e-mail.  I haven't been able to get her on Blogger (or Multiply) but she responds to some of my posts by email (hug!).  This is my BFF Elaine.  We have been friends for more than 50 years now.  Yikes!!  I think we were 10 when my family moved into the house across the street from her and her family.  I consider her my sister.  She used to call my folks mom and dad, and I still call her mom, Mom.  We had some great times growing up.

Here we are, sharing a summer vacation in Canada.  My dad loved to fish, and we always spent our summer vacations in Ontario, Canada, at a fishing camp on Rice Lake.  We would bring coolers (plural!) home, packed with frozen fish.  I still love fresh water filets, breaded with Old Bay Seasoning and fried.  Like potato chips, they are so good!

That's my mom, holding up her big catch (my grandpa is standing in the background).  This is the table where the fish got cleaned.  We all had to help, in some way, if we wanted to eat fish.  And we had fish for breakfast, lunch and dinner while on vacation!  We rented a three-bedroom cabin.  There was cold water in the kitchen sink, but we had to use the outhouse (see photo of Elaine and me above - outhouse in background).  My grandparents had their camper, as did Elaine's family.  When the cousins joined us, they rented another cabin.

My best high school memories are of being in the band.  I was in marching band and concert band.  I started playing trumpet in 5th grade, actually, and was also in the Jr. High band.  The parade photo shows me at the end of the trumpet row.  I'm actually the first full person you see from the right side of the photo.  Our summer 'uniforms' were black shorts and white tops, with white socks and white tennis shoes.  The upper photo is me in our uniform for football games and contests.  I LOVED band.  Loved it.

My other love in high school was art class.  I was on the yearbook committee (see photo below) and actually swiped these two photos from the yearbook room before I graduated (some others, too, I confess!).  I was voted "most talented" senior girl, because of my art.  I wanted to be an art teacher.  Now, because of choices and the paths we end up on, I am the accountant at an art museum.  It could be worse.  I think I probably make more money than an art teacher (not that money is everything).

I'm not sure which club photo this is, really, because I was in a few, but I think this was part of the yearbook committee.  Mike, Susan, me, Connie and Ann.  I've seen Mike and Ann since we graduated, but have lost track of Susan and Connie.

And my last childhood memory to share today (whew, aren't you glad!!!) is of my first prom.  I was a sophomore, but was 'going steady' with a Junior.  Felt pretty special, going to the Junior/Senior prom when I was a sophomore.  We had some fun.  He lived only a block away from my house, and we lived only a block away from the school.  This was taken in my front yard.  I lost track of Archie (nickname) after we graduated.  Heard some unpleasant things about some troubles he had, but he recently asked to connect on Facebook.  There are a bunch of my high school friends on Facebook now....almost like a reunion.  I was happy to know he is okay.

So, there you have my walk down memory lane!  I had fun.  Thanks for looking!  We are off to 4:00 Mass, then out to eat, followed by a trip to Publix for groceries.  Tomorrow will be laundry and nothing else.  Joe is THRILLED that hockey is back.  He is taping the Flyers so he can watch it when we get home.

Peace, love & hugs!