Tucked away in a corner of one those boxes, was a small yellow box with eleven slides in it. Try as I might, I was only able to get a general sense of what the pictures might be by holding them up to the light.
A good field of mine had a nifty gadget that would scan slides into computer photo files. I hesitated to impose upon her, but in the end, I just had to see the pictures. My friend agreed to scan them in for me - and yesterday sent the photo files to me via e-mail.
Getting the photos was like opening up a long forgotten, dusty, secret drawer in an old oak roll-top desk. As I gazed upon them, I left my office and aging body behind and travelled back, back, back in time, a time of boyhood before I had many of the cares, concerns and aches that I have today.
The photos were taken by my honorary Uncle George. Uncle George was an old man of about 85 years, from Lawrence, Kansas. (Hey! I know someone that lives there!) He went on an overseas trip with my Grandparents and my younger brother to Austria and Switzerland in 1972. He was a true gentleman and made good friends with my Grandparents.
After they returned from their trip abroad, Uncle George remained in touch, sending letters and photos reminiscing about the time they had shared together and expressed his hope of being able to see parts of Pennsylvania. Soon things were arranged and Uncle George came for a visit and my parents took him and my Grandparents to see Washington Crossing, PA (where George Washington crossed the Delaware that fateful Christmas day in 1776 to surprise the British/Hessians in Trenton and Princeton NJ), he also visited Bowman's Tower (a watch tower in Buck's County), the Franklin Institute (an unparalleled science museum downtown Philadelphia, and Valley Forge.
While he was staying with us, he took some pictures of my brothers and I playing lawn croquet. And it is one of these pictures I find myself gazing at, over and over again - and feel so transported by -
From right to left, me, my younger brother's neighborhood friend Scott, my younger brother, and my older brother. I am about 12 or 13 years old.
The four of us played - ate - went to school - studied - attended day camps - 4H club meetings - swimming lessons - scouts...and just about everything else together. We had not a care in the world except to do what our parents asked of us. How badly I miss those days.
Thank you Uncle George - your memory is still alive and well here.
And thank you, my friend, for scanning in this little box of slides for me. The images you created are of long lost treasures and now are treasure in their own right.
21 comments:
Aww...you were adorable with your red curly hair- we could have been bro and sis!
I love going back in time through photos. I just brought some slides from my trips to Germany and Austria in HS from storage this morning. I need to dust off the little slide projector and have myself a little show! We have boxes and boxes of slides from so many things while I was growing up in addition to the boxes of photos! Brother #1 looks just like I remember him in school!
Hey Iggy, it's me chattess, I came across your blog through Lainie's and I wanted to say I love it and I will be back to read more. Hugs!
this picture reminds me of the movie the Sandlot and the friendships those boys had; seems like you had something like that only better!
what a great ability with modern technology to be able to produce this picture for you to be able to remember a wonderful season for your life; thanking your friend too for helping you with it
betty
It's good that you have all those photos you can use to help yourself with regular trips down memory lane. :)
Memories...so nice to transport back to childhood and away from the hussle and bussle of adult life....and sherri..he still has curly red hair :-)
What a great photo for you to have and all the great memories it brings up. Sounds like you had a good Uncle George.
Maybe you'll post some more. I love looking at other peoples pictures and hearing their stories.
P.S. You were pretty cute with your curls.
You're welcome, my friend. *hugs*
Love the picture.
Going through old photos is always bittersweet. I never know whether to laugh or cry.
Your little critters were in my dreams last night. They were riding together on one really long bike and they kept falling over because the bike kept slipping on the monkey's banana peel.
oh that's just wonderful to have them at your finger tips again...and you were such a cutie...
Ain't technology great!
You have some wonderful memories.
How's the photo project going?
You remind me of my son when he was 2 or so. He had this wild mass of curls - his were honey blonde. Unfortunately, though, his curls disappeared with his first haircut. I've noticed his hair is much curlier now again, but he keeps his hair so short that it is hard to tell for sure.
Did anybody ever tell you that you are cute?
I love it, Iggy..precious! You did have the good 'ole days..I am trying to have mine now. hee, hee
Thanks to Uncle George and to you for sharing your memories.
Namaste',
gyspy-heart
I meant gypsy-heart, ha! 'Tis late and I should shut this down for the day.
hugs to you!
Oh how wonderful that you have found these and that they bring back such loverly memories for you....... even though I do not have such good memeries I so wish I could go back to times when there was less stress and problems.... be them just different lol....
I hate how so little time I have left without having done much..
x
I can relate to what Deanna said...cos my son had the same tight curly hair when he was a little tyke. His curls were blonde and like bed springs...until his first haircut, then they were all gone. :-(
I love going through old photos, did a lot of that myself while I was packing up to move. I have a Rubbermaid tub full of snapshots from the last 30+ years...it's fun to go through them.
What a great shot of the 4 musketeers...you were and still are adorable. Hugs!
That is so cool that you found this old photograph of you and I agree, I, too, long for those carefree days.
Looks like the friend was more like an honorary brother.
*perks* Chatty?
*goes off to say hi to Chattess on her blog*
Love the pictures! That must bring back great memories for you. It's always nice to take a look back at photos and be reminded of those simpler times.
I think it's unanimous, you were a cutie! But then, anyone with red hair is tops in my book. ;-)
I'm glad AK was able to convert those slides into pictures for you so you can enjoy them now and relive the glory days of your youth.
Awwww, how cute! I love taking walks on memory lane. One of these days I'm going to drag out all my old photos and get to scanning and playing along on Friday Photo Flashback.
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