Warning! Major Picspam ahead...
Oct. 25th, 2016 10:27 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
teddy_radiatorMany, many years ago, way before instagram and photobucket and all the other photo archive sites I don't know the name of, it was popular to create 'photo montages'. A large picture frame with lots of little holes in it meant that you could decoratively group your favourite photos in one convenient location, thus never having to really look at them again.
My mother came home with one such frame many years ago, and much thought and time was given to which photos would win the coveted spots. In the end, it sort of ended up being just the ones that would actually fit (and even then careful backing insured that square pegs really DO fit into round holes).
It sits on the little alcove in her little house, and no one ever looks at it but me.
Finally I persuaded her to let me take it off the wall (for the first time in, oh, probably 30-something years) and scan all the photos. Problem was, I was about halfway through taking them off the matting when I realised I really probably should have numbered them or something. And while I made all the photos I had fit back on it, my brain is telling me that some of them definitely aren't in the same place they used to be. Oh well. They're there - that's all that matters.
I decided to post them here, not only to have a place online they can be in case of some unlikely catastrophe, and also to inflict my old, grainy photos on my friends - I mean, what are friends for?
My dad Pat. He was so photogenic, even though he always described himself as a Southern Gomez Addams (ok, yeah, I can see it). He always looks so relaxed in photos, even when he's posing around machinery. The first photo is his standard Air Force posed photo, and it's always been a favourite. The second one was taken in the machine plant where he worked as an expeditor. Gods I miss him.
A couple of family photos. Man, you can spot an Olin Mills portrait a mile away, can't you? I never met an OM photographer that I didn't hate. We all look fed up and slightly deranged. Mom seems to be saying, "Take the picture before my husband kills you." Dad looks ready to slap the guy, and I look like I'm holding him back while saying, "Not yet, dad. I'll seduce him and you can stab him while he's trying to talk me into the deluxe package."
The second one is a lot more realistic, for all its blurriness. it was the day I graduated high school, and all of us look happy and relaxed. Gosh, Mom, I soooo remember that clutch.
One of my personal favourites. This shows four generations of women in my family. On the left is my Great-grandmother, Corrie Campbell; in the middle are my mom and me (love those socks!) and on the right is my grandmother S. E. Coker. (The initials didn't stand for anything - I often thought Corrie was a little short on imagination). What kind of floors me is that S.E. is probably about my age in this photo.
A couple of photos of mom and dad. The first is on Christmas eve (love those double knit polyester leisure suits!), and the second one was taken at a Shriner's convention the year dad was inducted. I was thirteen, so that would make these photos around 1975. I'm really sorry the second one is so faded - I thought they looked rather glamourous for 1975. Dad was a real fashion clothes horse, so he was always in on the latest trend for men, hence the turtlenecks and the ice cream suit.
One of my first studio photos, I am told. Sheesh, gormless much? The second one is my second Christmas (the date stamp from the developers give it away). The gentleman is my mother's dad, Truman (S.E.'s husband). He died when I was very young from complications following surgery (and hospital gross incompetence), so I don't remember anything at all about him, which is a pity. By all accounts he was a sweet, talented man, much loved. I am also told he absolutely doted on me, hence the total attention he is giving me here. Trying unsuccessfully to get out of the way is my aunt Betty, Mom's sister.
Another couple of photos of mini-me. A different graduation (kindergarten) and one of my favourite dresses, a cheeky little red velvet number. If you look carefully, you can see me in an almost identical blue version of it in the photo on the pump organ. Man, I wish I still had that organ. It's probably very valuable, but my parents sold it when I took up piano lessons. The only way it would play is if you reversed the vacuum cleaner to 'blow' (they used to do that way back when), and it would fill the bellows. Every once in awhile as a treat, my dad would hook it up and let me do my Phantom-Of-The-Opera-Mad-Organist routine.
I grew up a bit. I think these were both taken around my early twenties. You can see I still look stiff and uncomfortable in studio photos. I'm awfully shiny in that second one, though.
I was in my mid-teens in this one, and nearly orange from too much sun that summer. I think the photographer had a bit of a crush on me, because he practically gave me all my photos, and there were some pretty good ones from this session. Either that, or he was grateful to get rid of them at a bargain price.
Because I was so self-conscious when being photographed, mother says I used to make silly faces at the camera every time the photographer would say 'smile'. Finally in desperation he snapped this one. It's probably my favourite photo of myself hands down.
My awesome Aunt Betty, seen here with me on the same graduation day as above with mom and dad. She was the first person I knew to have a 'Glamour Shot' made, long before they became a 'thing' in the late 80's and early 90's. She was very sweet to me. WE had a lot of common interests and loved to go shopping together. She was also a voracious reader, loved to shop, and had a laugh like a dirty ratchet. She also died under mysterious circumstances, and way before her time. I miss her very much.
And finally, mother's dogs, Tyler and Scotty. Both lived good long lives, and Tyler especially was a real comfort to her, especially when dad passed. They were both spoiled rotten, but very sweet and loving. Scott was what they called a 'Peek-a-poo' (Pekingese/Poodle mix) and Tyler was a Llaso Apso.
Thank you for indulging me this little trip down memory lane. I only hope I didn't mess the montage up TOO much when I put it back together...
My mother came home with one such frame many years ago, and much thought and time was given to which photos would win the coveted spots. In the end, it sort of ended up being just the ones that would actually fit (and even then careful backing insured that square pegs really DO fit into round holes).
It sits on the little alcove in her little house, and no one ever looks at it but me.
Finally I persuaded her to let me take it off the wall (for the first time in, oh, probably 30-something years) and scan all the photos. Problem was, I was about halfway through taking them off the matting when I realised I really probably should have numbered them or something. And while I made all the photos I had fit back on it, my brain is telling me that some of them definitely aren't in the same place they used to be. Oh well. They're there - that's all that matters.
I decided to post them here, not only to have a place online they can be in case of some unlikely catastrophe, and also to inflict my old, grainy photos on my friends - I mean, what are friends for?
My dad Pat. He was so photogenic, even though he always described himself as a Southern Gomez Addams (ok, yeah, I can see it). He always looks so relaxed in photos, even when he's posing around machinery. The first photo is his standard Air Force posed photo, and it's always been a favourite. The second one was taken in the machine plant where he worked as an expeditor. Gods I miss him.
A couple of family photos. Man, you can spot an Olin Mills portrait a mile away, can't you? I never met an OM photographer that I didn't hate. We all look fed up and slightly deranged. Mom seems to be saying, "Take the picture before my husband kills you." Dad looks ready to slap the guy, and I look like I'm holding him back while saying, "Not yet, dad. I'll seduce him and you can stab him while he's trying to talk me into the deluxe package."
The second one is a lot more realistic, for all its blurriness. it was the day I graduated high school, and all of us look happy and relaxed. Gosh, Mom, I soooo remember that clutch.
One of my personal favourites. This shows four generations of women in my family. On the left is my Great-grandmother, Corrie Campbell; in the middle are my mom and me (love those socks!) and on the right is my grandmother S. E. Coker. (The initials didn't stand for anything - I often thought Corrie was a little short on imagination). What kind of floors me is that S.E. is probably about my age in this photo.
A couple of photos of mom and dad. The first is on Christmas eve (love those double knit polyester leisure suits!), and the second one was taken at a Shriner's convention the year dad was inducted. I was thirteen, so that would make these photos around 1975. I'm really sorry the second one is so faded - I thought they looked rather glamourous for 1975. Dad was a real fashion clothes horse, so he was always in on the latest trend for men, hence the turtlenecks and the ice cream suit.
One of my first studio photos, I am told. Sheesh, gormless much? The second one is my second Christmas (the date stamp from the developers give it away). The gentleman is my mother's dad, Truman (S.E.'s husband). He died when I was very young from complications following surgery (and hospital gross incompetence), so I don't remember anything at all about him, which is a pity. By all accounts he was a sweet, talented man, much loved. I am also told he absolutely doted on me, hence the total attention he is giving me here. Trying unsuccessfully to get out of the way is my aunt Betty, Mom's sister.
Another couple of photos of mini-me. A different graduation (kindergarten) and one of my favourite dresses, a cheeky little red velvet number. If you look carefully, you can see me in an almost identical blue version of it in the photo on the pump organ. Man, I wish I still had that organ. It's probably very valuable, but my parents sold it when I took up piano lessons. The only way it would play is if you reversed the vacuum cleaner to 'blow' (they used to do that way back when), and it would fill the bellows. Every once in awhile as a treat, my dad would hook it up and let me do my Phantom-Of-The-Opera-Mad-Organist routine.
I grew up a bit. I think these were both taken around my early twenties. You can see I still look stiff and uncomfortable in studio photos. I'm awfully shiny in that second one, though.
I was in my mid-teens in this one, and nearly orange from too much sun that summer. I think the photographer had a bit of a crush on me, because he practically gave me all my photos, and there were some pretty good ones from this session. Either that, or he was grateful to get rid of them at a bargain price.
Because I was so self-conscious when being photographed, mother says I used to make silly faces at the camera every time the photographer would say 'smile'. Finally in desperation he snapped this one. It's probably my favourite photo of myself hands down.
My awesome Aunt Betty, seen here with me on the same graduation day as above with mom and dad. She was the first person I knew to have a 'Glamour Shot' made, long before they became a 'thing' in the late 80's and early 90's. She was very sweet to me. WE had a lot of common interests and loved to go shopping together. She was also a voracious reader, loved to shop, and had a laugh like a dirty ratchet. She also died under mysterious circumstances, and way before her time. I miss her very much.
And finally, mother's dogs, Tyler and Scotty. Both lived good long lives, and Tyler especially was a real comfort to her, especially when dad passed. They were both spoiled rotten, but very sweet and loving. Scott was what they called a 'Peek-a-poo' (Pekingese/Poodle mix) and Tyler was a Llaso Apso.
Thank you for indulging me this little trip down memory lane. I only hope I didn't mess the montage up TOO much when I put it back together...
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no subject
Date: 2016-10-26 03:43 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-10-26 01:29 pm (UTC)Oh, my parents were always more trendy than classic, so you can see the decades in our photos very easily!
no subject
Date: 2016-10-26 04:11 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-10-26 01:27 pm (UTC)Dad was a hoot in his day. In his later years he grew very ill and it was hard for him, but he always thought I hung the moon.
no subject
Date: 2016-10-26 06:58 am (UTC)I love all these, Teddy.
no subject
Date: 2016-10-26 01:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-10-26 10:42 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-10-26 01:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-10-26 01:30 pm (UTC)*sigh* I hate that people do that, it's just destructive, it really is and I wish when we were young women that we had the confidence to tell people to piss off when they would say shit like that, They're not being nice or complimentary, they're being destructive, plain and simple.
I hope that mindset is a thing of the past for you, yeah? *hugs*
no subject
Date: 2016-10-26 01:32 pm (UTC)I think I will always feel that I would be prettier or nicer or smarter or more successful if I wasn't overweight. It's just been brainwashed into me so much over the years that it's conditional thinking now.
no subject
Date: 2016-10-26 10:57 am (UTC)I also had a glamourous aunt (related by marriage, because my biological family was not glamourous). Her name was Thea and she hailed from Texas. She always wore wigs or falls (her own hair was lank) and I never saw her without makeup. She had a closet full of killer outfits (some of which I inherited when she died) and she influenced me in many ways. She entered my life when I was about 8, and died when I was in my early 20s. I sometimes wish I still had her around to talk to, as I think that I had more in common with her than with any other family members.
no subject
Date: 2016-10-26 01:23 pm (UTC)Betty was lots of fun, and I miss her. She was in turns very serious and silly, and she had a way of using her hands when she talked that always made my dad laugh. She would bend them down from the wrist and shake them back and forth, like she was drying to air dry them. Dad used to call her 'Fang'. They were good friends as well.
Like you and your Aunt, Betty and I had more in common than either my mother and I or her daughter and her, and I loved hanging out with her. She should still be here.
no subject
Date: 2016-10-26 11:44 am (UTC)The cowgirl one is my favorite, of course. And I remember those photo montages, hahaha. They were a staple in hallways of the 70s/80s.
You know, it's probably an abomination for me to say this as a writerly/readerly person, but I think picspams are my favorite type of post. I was just thinking the other day about how much I wish my flist was full of them. Wouldn't it be fun if we had some kind of picspam posting event here on LJ?
no subject
Date: 2016-10-26 01:19 pm (UTC)I never thought of it, but I'd be all for it! I'm like you, I love seeing photos of friends and their families. I guess that's why I wanted to post these here! ♥
You are always free to come down the interstate and hug me anytime you want! ♥
no subject
Date: 2016-10-28 01:52 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-10-29 04:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-10-29 03:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-10-29 04:22 pm (UTC)