“Do YOU have a FAVORITE PHOTO”
When you have had enough TIME – – here on EARTH – – more than likely … YOU have had your picture taken for just being a BABY – – and then for your FIRST BIRTHDAY – – and then every YEAR there after – – and then when you enter into the SCHOOL SYSTEM – – you have a new PHOTO – – just to show that you are going PLACES – – that is up the ladder to higher education – – and then WORK – – – Of course “YOU” must be photographed – – and even if or when YOU might enter into one of the branches of service to your native Country… AMERICA.
“WOW” – – We sure do a lot of Photographing of our ourselves… and our Families.
So… after all that attention to what we look like – – over the years – – have you ever found one – – just one PHOTO – – that you could say… that you – – yourself – you really like??? Is there something about – THAT – – one PHOTO – – after a hundred years – – would stand out – – this one PHOTO – – after looking at it – – can you say that it is YOU!
The above Photo of ME – – is that ONE PHOTO of ME… the one I like more than any other. This PHOTO in a smaller size – – since I had enlarged for here – – is the one PHOTO that I saw of myself – – hanging in the kitchen – – back in the 1940 and 1950 era… never paid a lot of attention to it – – guess no one did – – but there were times – – when I would wonder… “What am I looking at? – – “What am I expecting?” – – “Is someone talking to me?” “I am trying to figure out what is attracting my attention… as I have such an inquiring look – – just waiting for something to be told to me… maybe – – and or am I paying the correct amount of attention to something – – or… WHAT?”
“This PHOTO is always asking me … something… but WHAT?”
The longest day – – that I may live – – I will be wondering – – and I guess that is what I like about this PHOTO – – since there is an un-answered question – – keeps the brain… guessing – – will the answer … ever come to me?
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“DADDY and DAUGHTER”
This first PHOTO… of DADDY and DAUGHTER (me) is when I was eight months. Since I do not have the photo handy – – can not write the whole list of stuff – – that my MOTHER wrote on the back side – – as to what I could do and say… which is a good thing for parents to do – – because… without a written record… who would remember everything that a first child – – is learning – – and then… is also able to do.
- Should I run across the “PHOTO” above – – I will add those wonderful things – – that my MOTHER – – did take the time to make note of – – especially for me – – as I am one of those “types” – – with inquiring minds – – sometimes people get sick of my questions – – but how then does one learn – – if they can not ask more than enough “QUESTIONS” – – so as to be well informed – –
- “What television series is that – – where the investigator always comes back – – just after taking a few steps to leave… and he says. .. “I just have …ONE MORE QUESTION?” ********** **********
- This is JUNE 26th, 2017 – – and I have the answer… to pass on – – to one and all – – so and since ‘no one’ sent to me an answer – – will have to save this “PRIZE”… for another time – – – so… the “STAR of Colombo” is the man in the very old ‘Rain Coat” – -“PETER Fault” – – himself” – -“Good Luck… till next time!”
- “Every one has my “number” – – for doing that exact thing – – when they think – – that I have turn to leave – – and with a quick step back… “Just one more thing,
“Do I look like – – I am pushing ‘two’ – – in the above photo? – – WELL… that is DADDY holding “ME” – – and we are in the back yard of my “AUNT Irene RILEY” — on ASHLAND Avenue, in Saint Louis – – – we would visit Aunt Irene – – as it was only a quick run through the FAIRGROUNDS PARK – – – – short drive…
This was a “BIG DAY” for me. It is JUNE 8th, 1952 – – and I have graduated from the eighth grade – – “WOW”
That is DADDY, DENNY, SR. standing on my right side – – and on the left of me … is my younger brother DENNY, Jr., – – who is in the seventh grade – – and next year – – he will be graduating from the eighth grade. Isn’t it wonderful… to have a child of yours – – graduating each year – – after so many years of the same thing – – you finally know the general routine and can almost … do it in your sleep.
After living a fairly… long time – – it is the the good memories that you have – – and if you also have old photographs to jog the old marbles floating around in the old brain – – well… “It is a wonderful WORLD… after all is said and done!”
“Thanks to the ALMIGHTY – – for all the wondrous things – – that ‘YOU’ have provided me with – – I am grateful and thankful – – each and every day – – LIFE is every thing and more – – some times… we just forget to give THANKS!” DV
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“…a TIME to START to WORK…”
In order for me to start to “WORK” for “Southwestern Bell Telephone” – – I had to go to the “Board of Education” and get a “Worker’s Permit” as I was not as yet eighteen years old. In preparing for a “JOB” as soon as possible… I also went to Summer School – – so as the get the required “credits” needed to Graduate or at least get a diploma as soon as possible.
This is the mid 1950’s – – and there were five (5) other girls starting to work – – and with me – our group of six with one “Instructor” went and did everything together – – our day starting at eight in the morning and ending at five in the afternoon. We had one hour for LUNCH in mid day – – we also had a break in the afternoon and morning.
This is me – – on one of the days… the “Instructor” i forms us that we will have our PHOTOS taken for their files – – and so I ask if I could have this Photo of me – – as it was not good enough for their files – – and rather than throw it away – – thought I would like to take it home – – to show my MOM.
As you can see – – the setting on the camera was not set to get enough of my face – – but there is just a small amount of of a good smile – – this “WORK” included six weeks of just learning – – and each day was FUN. It was like going “back” to school – – we were given a “Steno Note Book” and pencil – – we were to write down everything that the “Instructor” told us.
In “Saint Louis” back then – – every part of the City and areas that I did not even think about – but where telephone service was – – like in North Saint Louis where I was living – – the telephone exchange name was “Evergreen” – and our telephone number was “EV1-4650” – – so knowing what the “EV” stood for – – made it easier to know where that phone number would be located in the “CITY” and also the numbers “3 and 8” were correct for that area. I still have my old book with all of the information that I needed to know – – before ever sitting at the “Switch Board” and taking a “live” call.
Today… it would not be necessary for the six weeks of training – – as most children have their own “Cell Phones” and know more about calling everywhere – – and even to foreign destinations and all without the “HELP” of an “OPERATOR” – – because way back and then – – it was “long” distance to call “Arnold, MO.” – – and we would have slips of paper for each call made – – the “TO and “FROM” numbers and the “NAME” of the called party – – for the “PERSON to PERSON” calls – – we did a lot of writing and had to be good with the numbers – – did have to figure out the “TIME and CHARGES” for those “CALLS” made from “PHONE BOOTHS” – – needed to know what a “quarter” sounded like or if it was a dime or nickle – – – – there was a lot to know then – – but “TODAY” everyone can call anywhere in the world – – and probably on their little “hand-held” CELL PHONE…everything in “one” MACHINE! ******** “Very few “Telephone Operators”… and “BELL TRAINED” … needed!”
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“Blue Ribbon Winner”
“For as long as I can remember… This PHOTO of little “MARY ELLEN” hung on the Living Room wall – – and in those homes… that had a “Fire PLACE” – – there I was all ‘toastee warm’ – – with my big smile – – just waiting for someone to walk over – – looking at me and asking questions or just some simple ‘small talk’ to me!”
My grand-daughter, “JAIME” – – was over the other day – – and she has a cell phone that will take good PHOTOS – – so without removing the glass from this frame – – because the back side is sealed up – – ‘what a job that would have been’ – – we do see some reflections in the glass – – no matter what we tried to do.
Most “PHOTOS” that I have – – have a story – – and here is the story for this PHOTO.
There I am in the back-yard playing with some other little kids that live in the neighborhood… this is now ‘mid day’ … my DADDY pulls up into the driveway – – driving like a “maniac” as my Mother tells it – – – jumps up – out and running into the house …”Where is MARY ELLEN”” – – have to take her and real quick” – – my MOTHER points to the back yard saying that I am playing with friends. So my DAD runs out to the yard – – just grabs me… headed back to the car. “WAIT … WHAT FOR?” My Mother is asking… waiting for an answer.
“Flannery Studio” “has a “BABY CONTEST” today only… and I have to get “MARY ELLEN” there… and in a hurry!” “JUST a minute… let me clean her up and change her clothes!” “She has been playing outside and is too dirty for “PHOTOS” to be taken” … and … MOM is trying to catch up with my DAD – – but… he is just too fast – -has me under one arm – – almost like a “FOOT BALL” and into the vehicle, and off my DAD ‘flies’ – – – and if I wasn’t … NOW I am – – – just a real mess of a kid – – but, when my DAD is doing something – – “his way” – – there was no stopping him.
“So…when you look at this PHOTO – – you can see my face is a little on the dirty side – – the tie for my cap … not tied – – and where is the rest of it – – and the clothes … sure could have been clean, fancy – – maybe ribbons and bows in the hair – – maybe even some bright colors for the clothes – – to be sure that I was a little girl” – – – But… maybe these PHOTOGRAPHERS were looking for something different – – like… just plain ole Jane… come as you are – – and just let the “FACE” say something – – without all of the extras?
“Sure does look like I am talking to the “Photographer” – – – maybe even… sometimes… ME thinks me speaketh… too much!”
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“This PHOTO… MEMORIES are Forever”
Early 1940’s… Some of the worst of TIMES… America was now entered into the “WAR” and if you were not living then – – you missed out on something – – that is only understandable if you were a part – – and doing your part here in AMERICA – – to help our ALLIES.
In this PHOTO is little TOMMY and ME – – and since we are standing near the steps going to the basement – – only I noticed that I am ready for any quick moves little TOMMY ‘might make’ as he has a tendency to fly down ‘stairs’ – – when he is close to them. On one… MONDAY morning ‘wash day’… my MOTHER was in the basement and the washing machine was running – – and I was down there also to help sort out the wash – – TOMMY was upstairs and near the “trap-door”… where he should not have been – – he called down to us… and in bending and trying to see down the steps – – there he was – – in one fell swoop – – into a pile of dirty clothes – – and with a surprised look. His “Guardian Angel” works over time!
It was also some of the ‘best of times’ – – that is for children and the way that I am standing… reminds me…. these same years that we were in WWII – – something happened at “NIGHT” – – we had “BLACK OUTS” – – of which… has not happened since in AMERICA – –
Who would have thought that ‘air planes’ could fly across the ocean non-stop and loaded with bombs – – fly into the state of Missouri – – but we did need to be prepared and so there were ‘air-raid tests’ and the “Civil Defense” wardens would be walking up and down each and every street – – and if they saw a ‘light’ in your house – – – – they were knocking on your door.
There was one such night – – when we did get a knock on the door – – and the WARDEN calling – – “Turn off the LIGHTS!” – – All of the windows in the house had extra heavy drapes hung – – besides the regular window blinds and drapes covering – – but that one night – – just the smallest of light was seen so then… I just had to go outside to see what the world looked like?
Never before was Saint Louis so dark out side – — no automobiles anywhere at all – not even the “Walnut Park Bus” – – I had to see for myself – – so I stood in the middle of “Carter and Linton” looking both ways – – and not a light to be seen. So… as a little girl – – no traffic – – the center of that street made a real good looking “stage” for me.
Everyone in their homes… I could now do… what I would do during the day on the sidewalk… “somersaults” and “cart-wheels” – – now on the nice wide and open street intersection – – not a chance of running into anything – – just me singing and dancing with a up and over for as long as I wanted – – “WOW” … if only someone could have taken a PHOTO – – to really remember the FUN time I had – – until my MOTHER called and showed up – – Everyone was suppose to be in their “HOMES” for safety sake – – could be shot by the enemy or even bombed. So many reasons… I was given as to why… I should have been in the house.
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“MARY” is a GRAND OLD NAME”
This one is for “YOU” – – pass it on…
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