“Another – Aunt Irene – Favorite…”

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Just thought… that I should use this photo of “Aunt Irene” – since while going through an old file – –  just ran across a  single  page of an old letter that “Aunt Irene” had sent to me – way back  – when I was living in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. This may have been the middle page of the letter – as at the top of the page “Aunt Irene”  was saying… that Denny and Judy wanted to take her out  – on … and for her “BIRTHDAY”  –   for a nice dinner – but she was saying that she would rather just spend some time visiting with the children – but  – that is just the way people feel when they get older – they are more into  – just visiting with the FAMILY  – as to have to go out to eat –  they  would  just have more FUN … with littler children.

The above photo was taken when  –  –  for and on one of the summers  – that we drove up to Saint Louis  … for our “FAMILY”  –  monthly vacation…- from Fort Lauderdale – and we would be able to visit FAMILY and FRIENDS – that we knew would also be attending the “German St. Vincent Orphanage – annual picnic.”  When you are young and have the time –  and… this I’m guessing…   – that lots of Families take a summer vacation  –  with all the kids and a whole list of places to stop at…and  then… to  spend  special time visiting everyone – and…  I sure am glad that  – I did take a few pictures – because  – after all is said and done – “MEMORIES” are all that you can take with you –  – travelling  all trough your whole… LIFE TIME!

The “PHOTOS”  – just seem to help – you to remember more of the details – as some times…you may think that you remember something happening one way – but  – having that  – “PHOTO” – sure does help  for “total recall” – and for me –  the more of the full memory –  the more  –  that I can write!

So… I think that  – that was so cool… “TODAY”  – that I should just find a part of an old letter from “Aunt Irene” and she is telling  me…that … JUDY and Denny  are  taking her out for her “BIRTHDAY”  – and so this  “photo” just brings “two good thoughts”  together for me  – there must be something – out there in space – letting me put this all together  – just for “today! ”  Just so you know … we all wish you … “Aunt Irene”  –   – a very special  “HAPPY BIRTHDAY”  – we are still  and always  – thinking about you…


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“Aunt Irene – Celebrating…”

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Aunt Irene is in the center of this picture – and she looks so good – so “HAPPY”  – and when you are “HAPPY”  – and with FAMILY –  – Let’s just pretend that the above picture is the   “way”  –  we all look today – and we are all “HAPPY” to wish Aunt Irene – “HAPPY BIRTHDAY!”

Put on your “HAPPY” face… and Celebrate!

As I was looking at this photo –  – it just came to me… since we are all living  in a “TIME” and “SPACE”  type of world … and TODAY… there are so many “experts” selling programs – that “You can have …right ” NOW”… whatever you desire…just by thinking  “it” into being Real…Right…NOW! So…suppose we  try their  program out… as we did like the “way” –  that we  did look  – when we were much younger – and had all  of that  “whatever” it takes to charm  the world…   and  “NOW” …we could  in some  way… make a copy of that “being”  – for a future “TIME”…  – for the day –  for… when we hit “80 or even “90” years of age  …you know the years when all of the old body starts to sag and drag – and sometimes the old body – just does not want to  do any more celebrating – just  because the  young feeling of celebrating …just decided to give up on the  old senior oldster  – seems that everything  in the line of “FUN” …just gave up and went! “Where did “it” all go  – – and in such a hurry?”

Well… with photos  – that is what I am doing  – It … is the “week” to  –  CELEBRATE  –   the birthday of  –  “Irene Brady Riley” –  and so the best way is for me to see   “Aunt Irene”   with her FAMILY and FRIENDS –  and the best part is to enjoy  – re celebrating an occasion  – where everyone is dressed so  nice and  having “FUN” – –  because soon  –  – everyone will be having   “cake and ice cream” –  and those are  the “FIRST”  ingredients for a  very extra special…”BIRTHDAY PARTY!”

“Happy Birthday”… “Aunt Irene!”


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“Birthday Girl – Aunt Irene in Arizona…”

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Today’s  – “BIRTHDAY GIRL”  – Aunt Irene Riley and her  friend, Mrs. Schmidt are visiting the Tucson, Arizona area  – that is the “San Xavier Mission” –  – (White Dove of desert) –  – in the background.

Just in case you think  – that you are …seeing some faces in the fence  –  the  back area and to the left  of  “Schmidt and Riley” –  those faces are  “Gina and Mary” – –  relatives of Mrs. Schmidt.

March 1st,  1964 –  is the date – and you would think… that it is always on the “HOT” side in the desert – –  well… it is cold enough – to wear your  “WINTER” coat –  – and maybe even – your “long-johns” if you have some??

Aunt Irene is in her 76th year  – in this photo – and like my  son  always shouts out  – when the numbers 76th are mentioned – “that’s the Spirit!” – has to do with being in the “Spirit of the Commemoration of America” –  – the  “Signors” of the Declaration –  – something that you  will do  – just to see if all those that are in the nearby  hearing area – are  all  – up to date with keeping the “VISION of AMERICA” alive and well! – “Three Cheers for AMERICA”  – and all those …who take the time to visit …  each of the UNITED STATES – just to see and  always know that –  “all is well”  – and that we all… can still share our  “FREEDOM”   and “LOVE” –  – with one another!  *** “God Bless America!” ***

Today…  is the DAY – “Happy Birthday…  AUNT –  IRENE BRADY RILEY!”


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Another “FAVORITE” Photo – Aunt Irene + ME…

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Aunt Irene ‘s birthday is tomorrow… JULY 17th – 127th …  if she were here – but  – all of us have a  previous engagement  – and that is… that someday we  will all …meet with  our CREATOR – so  – when you think about it – someday  –  – – we will all meet again! It will be a big surprise to some  – and then – again  – WOW …  for some of  us  – just let the CELEBRATION – begin! Everything and even more….

This photo  is one of those that bring back memories of when  … and in my case  – I was number one –  and a girl  – I say that because Aunt Irene  did  like to sew and make all kinds of things for me to wear  – and she did such  wonderful work – I always enjoyed all the new things that I would receive – NOW … that I am thinking about it – I’m guessing that – that is why – I like to sew –  and way back then -I did learn how to sew on my MOTHER’s  old Singer Treadle Sewing machine.

Looks like I was able to stand  – just fine on my own – but.. it also looks like Aunt Irene – was so worried that I would fall or maybe even break – if she was not  – right there to catch me???  –   What do you think? Will I fall and break – or did I have it made in the shade??

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY – Aunt  Irene – and many more …  and THANKS… for all the FUN we had when you where still here on earth –  – –  and for keeping your arms out … just in case  – that I would need “back-up” help!”


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July 1961 – Activities…

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Always for the  “FORTH of July”  –  we  would have to come to Saint Louis, from Fort Lauderdale Florida. The “FIRE WORKS” were a big thing for our KIDS and for those of the relatives in SAINT LOUIS  – as you can see  in the above photo –   Aunt Irene Riley is standing on the right  – and  – we will be  celebrating her ” 73rd BIRTHDAY on the 17th” –  – so that is one important thing we will also be doing.

Aunt Irene, is getting into  the  – feeling her age on this photo – she does not have her girdle on –  – as she would wear it most  any  other  time –  –  “WE GIRLS MUST ALWAYS KEEP IN “mind”  – OUR OLD GIRLISH FIGURE  – JUST GOT UP AND LEFT” –   but – and  NOW –  to be around all the KIDDOS and walking around in the “HOT” –  ST. Louis ZOO – is not  the place to be wearing tight fitting  clothes and sweating to death at any old age??? So, thinking about comfort – who in the world are “we”  trying  to impress … the “ANIMALS” –  – “I do not think so, they are not wearing their girdles!” So, let’s just be comfortable and have FUN!

Next to Aunt Irene, is our little Lee,Jr – and this ” ZOO thing”  – well –  it is all NEW to him – I can not remember if there was a  “ZOO”  in or near us , in the Fort Lauderdale, Florida area???  And –  of course –  I am taking the pictures – and I also – am expecting baby “Al”  –  – this is JULY and “AL”  will be arriving in early JANUARY – so there is a math problem for those who like  to do figure work in the middle of summer???

On the left side of this photo – Kathy Stanley  – a very favorite sister-in-law   and some of her children – the girls’ names Denise  and Diane  and the son is Ralph – hope that I am remembering the names  correctly  – have other pictures posted and you will find their names  – just check me out  – see if my memory is at least half correct???   Since we usually stayed  in the Saint Louis area – for a month – we stayed – much of the time –  with the STANLEY FAMILY – and we would visit with more relatives  as well as check out … a lot of the Saint Louis sites – especially if they were suited for bringing  the children … to also enjoy???

This picture is for the remembrance of Aunt Irene Riley’s  – BIRTHDAY – we were there – we helped her  celebrate  – –  to get  ready for another year of happiness – – – – that’s what BIRTHDAYS – –  are for — setting the mind into action –  the new frame of mind  – – “Not getting OLDER – but getting BETTER!”

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY” ……..  “AUNT, IRENE BRADY RILEY!”


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“100 YEARS ago…remember???”

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That’s my Aunt Irene  sitting on the back porch steps – and next to her is her husband –  William B. Riley. Do they look like the “HAPPY” for-ever- after- couple???   If… you know anything about the different signs – they are a 180 days opposite – you let me know what you come can up  with… and I’ll let you know… if you are correct???

Aunt Irene’s birthday is  this coming… FRIDAY the 17th of JULY – a  terrific  day  just… for her… and in the year 1888!  Not everyone in LIFE … has the LIFE of “RILEY” – – – but, that is what  Aunt Irene wanted and she did… get it.  There were a couple of things that she did not… get – but,  when you look at the full picture –  – nobody can have everything – there are  just  –   a few costs to you  – – when you play the “GREAT” –  “game of LIFE!”  

This picture just is not the best –  for quality – but  then – after 100 years – I am “LUCKY” just to have it. And for that  – I am very grateful! Until this picture was enlarged  – so that  I could  try … –  to make a few corrections – –  I saw something that I had never seen before???  Take a look and see what you see –  when looking at Aunt Irene’s face???  This is the first picture that I can see… some real happiness on her face.  – And,  another thing – when looking at this photo of her face  – – she does have some of he same facial qualities… as –  of my MOTHER  –  – her younger sister – and not even a  thought of – as yet??? 

Before my  MOTHER, MARIE BRADY…arrived on the scene – there were a couple or so – more children to come along – some living and some of them not making it – and then –  my MOTHER was the thirteenth!   Also, looking at this photo – everything looks black and white no  other kind of colors –  used for anything –  – and  – then – some years ago – my one grand-daughter  had ask me, “When you were little… was everything in the world only black and white  – no colorful  stuff like today??? ” – I had to find out why she thought that –  – she may have been  –  only four or five years old at the time… “Why would you think to ask that?”  – “Well – GRANDMA – you always  – watch the old black and white movies  – and I thought that  – maybe that’s the way you remember the world – when you were a little girl??” (I could have died laughing…)

You know – that was one of the silliest questions – that  – I have ever been asked –  and of course – I did go into a long story about –  AMERICA –  being in the WWII  – and everything important went toward the WAR effort – otherwise – how could we have won the WAR – – everybody had to do without some things – –  for the greater good – –  for all of us… AMERICANS!

With all of that… “HAPPY BIRTHDAY.”..  “AUNT –  IRENE BRADY RILEY!””


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