“Every PHOTO…has a STORY”
This is 1953… and the SUMMER TIME!
Check this out…. it is in…the faces … look carwfylly and check out Tom on the cot!
In the months of June and August – – German St. Vincent Orphanage will celebrate on the second Sunday of those two months with a very big PICNIC … there will be rides including “Pony RIDES” for the children and FOOD… all day including “Chicken Dinners” and every kind of chance game and everyone feels LUCKY… and there are lots of WINNERS!
So… with all of that good stuff going on … why not go?
Since it did not look like… we were all going… that would be MOM on the swing… my little sister, Eve Karen and I am taking this PHOTO … so this is why you see “THOMAS” on the cot… in great pain and suffering… and if you have good eyesight and this PHOTO… has been enlarged … you can see that TOM is not a cry baby… he would rather die… than to let you know that … he had a serious accident on my brand new “boy’s style bike!”
Why do “GIRLS” have to have a “BOY’S” style bike… in case a boy just might want to “take you”… for a ride on your bike with the “handlebars?”
TOMMY wanted to go to the ST. Vincent’s PICNIC as a lot of his friends would be there … and since I had a brand new “BIKE” he thought that he should try it out… just to “SEE” what it will do… and of course it would save TIME and BUS FARE as there would be at least four (4) BUS transfers to get there.
It is approximately six (6) miles from where we live in NORTH SAINT LOUISE to NORMANDY, Missouri! Just simply a piece of cake for a good looking and strong teenager … no problem at all?
My brother “TOM” … should have been in… “HOLLYWOOD” as he has everyone enjoying… everything… wherever you are and whatever you are doing. He is the original “ENTERTAINER”. That is for as long as he is there… the SHOW is on and everyone stays… till he lets you know the … SHOW is over!
Tom made it out to the PICNIC – safe and sound – but in TIME… TOM was showing all of the different ways to ride a bike and as “LUCK” would have it… there was a soft gravel side road …just off of the main road and as in one of the turns… in this particular stunt called for… well… “TOM and BIKE” went flying down the side area and TOM… landing on his arm… and the gravel did an unmerciful job on himself… embedding into the arm… he had “PAIN” out of this world but… he would not let on…to the crowd… that he was suffering! “To the High Heavens”
Nothing to do… but to cover the arm as well as he could with the sleeve of his shirt and make excuses… starts to ride the bike home… with the PAIN just so bad… he did not know if he would even make it??
When TOM arrived HOME … I could tell that something was wrong… but Tom was no longer into FUN and GAMES… his situation was that he had PAIN so bad… he did not want to upset MOM… so nosy ME… I had to see what the arm looked like??
This was a situation for the HOSPITAL… in my books and that is where we all had to go with TOM … that gravel was stuck into the skin… so nice and tight… I would not be surprised to know… that there is still some stuck in his arm!
In those days there was only the “CITY HOSPITAL” that I knew of for emergencies… but on the next day, as you see in the above PHOTO… we are all worn out.
We all had to take “TOM” to the Hospital … going on the “BUS” … there was so much that needed to done… that we had to find resting places here and there… while the nurses and doctors worked on TOM!
The previous night at the HOSPITAL…was enough for a LIFETIME. So… as you can see TOM is taking it easy in the backyard… just resting and probably hoping… that we all will forget! (- but not me… the photo is a very good reminder -)
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“HAPPY BIRTHDAY…GAIL”
“HAPPY BIRTHDAY…. to YOU… “HAPPY BIRTHDAY.”.. to YOU… “HAPPY BIRTHDAY…. DEAR GAIL…” “A VERY SPECIAL and HAPPY BIRTHDAY to YOU…. and many…many… many…. MORE!”
Left to Right… GAIL… MARY ELLEN… TOMMY
‘Let – us all sing…”
“Tommy – – you are suppose to start us off…in “SONG” – – You… have one of those voices – – that can be heard all the way down…. to “GRAND AVENUE…” – and maybe everyone at the “Sportsman’s Park” will also hear us – – and just maybe join in – – we may as well … have lots of FUN… TODAY – – since it is GAIL’s BIRTHDAY – – and also it is “FRIDAY… the 13th” – – so there will be lots of CAKE and ICE CREAM – – if we sing the loudest!
“HAPPY BIRTHDAY to GAIL… and many more – – have lots of FUN…TODAY…TOMORROW and FOREVER…”
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“Let us all sing…”HAPPY BIRTHDAY ” to GAIL”
Rounding up – – as many of our old “CLASS-MATES” – – as possible – – and start to sing that very old favorite – – that we all like to hear – – only… once a year… “HAPPY BIRTHDAY!”
Standing on the swing – – looks like Gail Porter and sitting on the swing seat looks like Patsy Counts – – could be in 1950 or even 1951 – – – which would make us – NOW – – “senior citizens” – – and we still…. would like to take a “high flying ” swing – – if at all possible??
Sure would have been terrific – if only I had something better – – than… the little old box camera – – which… I was then… taking pictures – – in the good old days – – – and expecting that… they would turn out – – “picture perfect” – – but – – not really knowing how to take …”perfect photos” – – would end up… with getting an over-lapping … of people in the photos – – since “someone” – – did not remember to advance the film????
Left to right on this photo… looks like Beverly Porter… Gail Porter… and Barbara Henry.
This is another… little part of … a double exposed photo. On the left and arms high into the air .. is Melba Michaud… sitting on the slide and in front in Stella Marie Santoyo… and on the slide and sitting up and above Stella… is Jeanne Saettele …. – – and on the right – – holding her arms up – – as we play “LONDON BRIDGE” – as those that are coming down the “SLIDE” – – get caught going under… the “LONDON BRIDGE” – – is very difficult to make out… the only one – – also a girl in my class – – that I can think of – – – that by the dress and hair style – – might be Violet Pfeiffer.
So much… for “FUN and GAMES” – – NOW… for the best part of the BIRTHDAY PARTY – —– CAKE and ICE CREAM – – guess that we might have to sing first… the “HAPPY BIRTHDAY” song.. to our class mate… GAIL Porter!
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“Gail’s BIRTHDAY – two more days…”
“Class-mate GAIL and her cousin Barbara” – – visiting German St. Vincent’s – – at one of their Picnic’s’ – – summer of 1953 or maybe 1954???
Nothing like climbing up to stand along side of “Saint Joseph and child shrine” – I sure can not do that today – – but as poor as the quality of the PHOTO – – we sure do “LOOK” good!
The little girl – – at the foot of “SAINT JOSEPH” is my younger sister, EVE KAREN – – and looks like the hand that she is holding the camera case straps – – she is also sticking something into her mouth – – never notice that – – years ago when looking at these old PHOTOS – – so… (click on the above PHOTO to see better – – what we all are doing.)
After… giving these two PHOTOS a much closer look – – in the first PHOTO… there is a NUN walking in the background – – probably checking out – – to see what we were up – – as they would have been instructed to check – – – just glad that – – we were no longer living there. – – In the “SAINT JOSEPH” PHOTO – – too many shrubs around for a NUN to crawl around in – – no checking in that area???
This PHOTO had another – photo exposure at the bottom – – – but just to see – – if it were possible to get – – just the better part … of the PHOTO – of my friend, “GAIL” – – as these “DAYS” were sure… some real good and FUN “DAYS!”
“HAPPY BIRTHDAY … GAIL”
“HAPPY BIRTHDAY… to YOU….
and MANY —- MANY —– MORE!”
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“Let’s BAKE a BIRTHDAY CAKE!”
There is a “BIRTHDAY” coming up and it is on the 13th of MAY , and just for some extra “GOOD LUCK” and “FUN” this will be a “FRIDAY” and when the occasion of it being your “BIRTHDAY” also landing on the “13th” … YOU are always looking for lots of “FUN and GAMES” since … my BIRTHDAY” also lands on a “13th and FRIDAY” once in awhile… but, in another month!
One of the “GIRLS” in the above PHOTO will be the LUCKY young lady to be celebrating her BIRTHDAY on this FRIDAY the 13th!
Starting from the left side of this PHOTO… Elma… GAIL… Betty Jean… Violet… Jeanne… Theresa… Mary Agnes… Mary Ellen… Stella… and Eleanor.
This is the eight grade cooking class of 1952 so…
NOW as you are looking, what do you think, that we should be making?
Way back … in 1952 – – as far as I can remember … when you, were in the KITCHEN … you would need lots of ingredients … to bake a cake and or to start to make a nice meal?
There were not a lot of boxes… to make a selection from and all you would need to make… “the item as shown on the front of the box or package” … was to add some water.
We would need a good “COOK BOOK” with recipes for everything and lots of additional information, such as how to even prepare the vegetables – meats – even for a simple item to make… such as Pancakes and or even “French Toast” just some of the items that… even I would enjoy for breakfast.
So… for this “FRIDAY the 13th” I am giving some serious thought to making a “RED VELVET CAKE” … an extra special “CAKE” that should command some “rave reviews” … that is if I do a good job?
It just came to me… here I am promoting the use of a good “COOK BOOK” and it just dawned on me that… that is “ME” in the PHOTO holding the “COOKBOOK” someone had to find a good recipe … for the PHOTO to make sense??? “RIGHT?” – – RIGHT!
“HAVE you guessed … WHO is the LUCKY CLASS MATE of mine… who will be having a real nice “BIRTHDAY PARTY” on … this 13th of May – and on FRIDAY … this 2016???
( Just so you do not have to wait … till tomorrow for the answer, that is our very good friend…GAIL )
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“Remember…MOTHER…Every DAY”
“Sure hope that we remember “MOTHER” every DAY!”
Sometime in the mid 1950’s… “nosy me” – looking in closets – up on the top shelves – – those places – – that – once someone packs the box of stuff – thinks – – “this is a safe place to store “stuff” that – – I want – – but have no need of …NOW!”
“WHY… do I… like to look through old – dusty boxes – – that are put away – – and just plainly – – that is to me… forgotten?” When I was in my teens – – looking into old boxes of stuff – – just has some kind of intrigue to me – – almost like being a “detective” – – with maybe “HOPES” to find – – some lost treasure??
NOW… that I am thinking about the old days – – it just came to mind – – that back in the 1940’s – for the WWII – – the WAR effort – – it was my duty as an AMERICAN – little girl – to take my wagon and travel all around the neighborhood – – looking for metal and newspapers and magazines – – and take to the designated places – – to help AMERICA – – WIN the WAR! We also collected the bacon grease and oils in old coffee cans – and those were turned in at the corner grocer – – as there was a need – and if there was any way – – for me to look and find something that – – could be used – – for something… with a real need and purpose – – well – that is where I am coming from – – as I think – – that I am still doing that!
So… taller and able to handle a “step-ladder” – – I was on a mission to find out – what was in the boxes – – on the high shelves – – that – just sat in the same space – – for years! To my surprise – – old “PHOTOS” – – and of “OLD” people that I did not know – – and never saw. The above “PHOTO” of my MOTHER – – was in one box with some others – and as I was looking at the above “PHOTO” – – my MOTHER – – informed me that she did not like this PHOTO – – and never wanted it – – to be hung up on the wall – – as that is what I wanted to do.
The above “PHOTO” was beautiful to me – – and I could never find out – – why MOM did not like it??? So…for years and years – – I kept this “treasure” hidden in my photo albums – – – but when my MOTHER left this earth – – this very same week many years ago – – I finally – – found a frame for this treasure – and – “It” NOW – hangs in my bedroom – – so I can see this treasure – – my MOTHER – – every DAY!
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