Those Were the Days...

I borrowed a high quality slide scanner from a photographer friend to scan in a couple hundred old slides that my Aunt Jill had. Although a long process, it's a rewarding one. The slides come to life in nice big photos. I loved looking at the photos and feeling like I was there for the moment. In today's world of cell phones, computers and constant interruption, it's so nice to look back to simpler times. The photos made me happy and sad. Sad to no longer have my Grandparents but happy to see them when they were young and full of life with family. Please click on the photos to see a more detailed and larger view. I think some of the expression gets lost with the template sized photos.


Here's my Mom on graduation day (from High School). People always say I look just like her. This photo might have convinced me. I can only imagine how proud my Grandparents were. I'm a bit like my Mom as I'm not one to "shine" for the camera. Keep those things away from me! However, my Mom showed a sincere smile for this photo and it definitely made her shine.


Wow! I really love this photo. I'm not sure who was taking the photo. I suspect it might have been my Grandfather. I'm not sure that the double exposure was on purpose, but what a perfect mistake. Look how the baby's eyes (cousin Chris) are closed and in the double exposure they're open. It's as if the baby is dreaming about it surroundings. Look how the mother (Aunt Julie) is looking at her baby. One can only imagine all the thoughts... excitement, joy and worry of being a new Mom.


My Grandmother and my Uncle Tom. Grandmother was a great Mom and it just shows in the beaming face of Tom. I love how beautiful, young and vibrant my Grandmother looks. She was such a soft hearted person and I can't help but feel happiness when I see photos of her like this.


By the hammer on the deck of the raft, I suspect my Grandfather just completed this raft on Portage Lake where their cabin was. As a child, I spent a lot of time at their cabin as well as jumping off that raft. He built it to last like everything he built (including the cabin). Our family spent lots of time doing water activities in the summer. On the raft from left (in the striped t-shirt with short sleeves) are Aunt Julie, my Mom (Joan--in the large stripe 3/4 length striped shirt), Aunt Jill, Grandfather, Grandma, neighbors at lake, Isabel Snyder (lady in green sweater) and Irene and Dick Dressel (Dick is leaning over a boat motor and Irene is in the blue sweater).



The beach scene. See we really are a family that likes to be near water... even if it's freezing. I'm sure my Aunt Jill has the story. If she fills me in I'll update the caption. I thought it was a cool photo because I know my Grandfather was taking the photo with my cousin Tim in his arms. I'm sure the others were wondering why the baby wasn't in photo. From left to right, my Grandma, Aunt Jill, her little brother and my Uncle Tom, and Uncle Steve. Clearly, there were no such things as beach shoes.