Hello Friends and Family, |
1977 - Florida Christmas, Part 2 |
Link to this year's index by clicking here. |
So cute — Grandma and Grandchild #2 (Lauren) sharing a bit of Christmas cheer. I wonder what was in that cup. |
And here's your's truly carrying Lauren into her home. I'm not sure if she was really keen on this stranger with the beard — but at least, she's not crying. Yet. |
Out in the back yard, where the sun shone brightly, Connie, my oldest sister (but two years younger than me) gave me a big smile for a nice portrait. BTW, she was Miss Lauderhill 1964. Beautiful then, beautiful now. |
Inside the house, her son, Todd (Grandchild #1), was opening one of his Christmas gifts. The passage of time has given him wonderful maturity — including a gray beard and a flock of kids. |
Here we see a beautiful shot of Janie (middle sister) and Lisa (baby sister). There is certainly a family similarity between them — so much so that some family friends could not tell them apart — although I never had that problem. |
Lisa certainly matured into a beautiful young woman, I always think back to that tiny infant that I first saw in a bassinet when she and mom came home from the hospital where Lisa was born. I was 14, so obviously, she was my baby sister. Still is. Always will be. |
Someone else grabbed the camera and captured my mom and me chatting — probably about how great that we all could get together for another Christmas. As families grow up, it becomes much more difficult to schedule such times together — but you take what time you can — and hold on to the memories of times past. And that is one reason we take the photos. |
Next, we see my mom and Connie as my sister is telling a story of some sort. Yes, she is one of those folks who talks with her hands — obviously, one of those folks who cannot talk if you tie their hands behind their back. Just joking, Connie. |
Again, my mom and Connie now conversing with Lisa and Danny (Janie's husband). Danny is ex-Navy, who later worked for and became co-owner of a commercial sign company — building, installing, and maintaining those signs we all see outside stores and other businesses. He and I have become great friends over the years, more like brothers than brothers-in-law. |
Here we see Danny and my dad enjoying the discussions. When my dad first met Danny, I think he was a bit skeptical that this was the right guy for his middle daughter. I think Dad was just being a bit overprotective but Danny won him over with his great personality and ability to do just about anything around the house — together with his obvious love for Janie. |
Another backyard photo — this one of my baby sister, Lisa. The background looks like a jungle — but that is so typical of backyards in Florida. |
Back inside, we see Mom's two Siamese cats, Ling and T-Ang. They did not seem to want to be part of the goings-on — so they just kept to themselves while the humans talked. And such was Christmas 1977. |
To be continued... |
Life is good. |
Aloha, B. David |
P. S., All photos and text © B. David Cathell Photography, Inc. — www.bdavidcathell.com |