Renovo Picnic

As mentioned in the background of my photo of Missy on My Brownie post. Forgive me that I don't remember the hosts names; JoAnne and (Tom?) someone, far left seated. Dad, photographer, is lying in the front, Mom is in the back in the sunglasses, Tracy is seated far right and I am on the other side of the dog sitting by a guy I kinda had a crush on for 10 minutes.

This seemed like a 4th of July type, summer picnic. I was nice to get to Northern PA, self proclaimed God's Country,  in the heat of the summer but those never ending back roads to Renovo (rt 144?) seemed to go on forever.

There really wasn't anyone else my age at the picnic and I think even Tracy made better friends with the dog than other kids. I think I probably got bored but a constant distraction for me were the imaginary horses I could ride, many based on characters from Walter Farley's books. My favorite horse was named Flame from The Island Stallion stories.

As the long day turned to dusk and some of the older guests took on more alcohol, I rode Flame around the vast yard. One inebriated man, second standing in from the left, suggestively slurred that he and I might frolic like wild horses together in the field. I was really confused by his attention and hated that he drew attention to me and my imaginary horse. I think someone, maybe Mom set him straight, and I pretty much hid from everyone the rest of the night.

I know the hosts stayed in contact with my parents for years and they eventually had an emotionally challenged child. I hope that things got easier for them as time progressed and society became more accepting and offered more resources.

6th Grade Track Meet

The Mifflin County School Distctric 6th grade track meet was held June 1974 at Mitchell Field. I tied for 1st place in the girls 100 yard dash and placed 2nd in the girls long jump.

A huge thank you to Mom for capturing these moments of my childhood on film!

100 yard dash

Long jump

Judy as a Pup

I think Arron looks a little like his Dad. Puppy Judy on Walnut Street.

Self Timed

From a series of shots I took on this date. I was confused in trying to figure out who took this photo since all of the other from the surrounding negatives showed I was on my own, wandering the neighborhood. From the rushed and uncertain look on my face and the location of the photo I finally derrived that it was a shot I took using the self timer and propping the camera on the Stidfole's low wall.

Patches and peace signs all over my jacket, I am fairly proficient with the Nikon on April 15, 1972.

Road Runner Pjs

Brushing my teeth in my Road Runner pajamas.

Badmitton Dad

Probably early fall of 1971

Mississippi Trip, August 1968

In Grandma Gay's kitchen, celebrating her birthday. l-r, Tracy, Ken Gay, Georgia Lee Gay, Tim Gay, Me.

After being told to "sit up straight" for the next photo, I remember taking on my more subtle way of acting out, crossing my eyes.

Sweaty little kids surrounding their grandmother in the hot August summer in Meridian, MS. I remember feeling like my cousins were weird for calling our Grandma Gay "Mama Lee." It was a family tradition as my mom called her grandmother Mama Nanny and her first name was Nancy.

Tracy would be 3 years old and I was 6. Grandma Gay never seemed to change no matter what age.

Bless my parents for the foresight to start our traditional shot upon departure. Over the year we have a very nice progression of photos in this same location. Tracy and I are in matching dresses that Mom made for us. I think Mom made her our dress too.

We pulled to the side of the road for a shot of me picking a cotton boll.

Roadside kudzu in 1968.

Red dirt of the south.

Dad holds on to Tracy so she won't escape.

The Natural Bridge in Alabama, on our way home.

Groovy South Wayne Street

I love these shots I took of my family on South Wayne Street in Lewistown. It looks to be mid 1969.

Mom, grooving in paisley.

Mrs. Nichols crossing the street from her house.

Grammy Lukens on the porch of Aunt Esther's house. Grammy moved there in 1964 to let us move into her home, next door.

Cousin Becky and Mrs. Nichols. Becky is leaning on her family's car. Uncle Bill always drove a big car.

Tracy poses for me and Dad looks on. He was probably coaching me on keeping the heavy Nikon level.

Spring Portraits

Me and Mom standing in front of the 1963 Corvair.

Easter 1967

March 26, 1967 Tracy and I are twinkies in Spring dresses Mom made for us.  Notice Tracy has a frilled edge and I do not.

Dad and his girls who are getting to be quite an armful.

Grammy Lukens in her Easter bonnet. Ready for church.

Aunt Esther as we all head to Trinity United Methodist.

Easter bounty with turtle pillows Mom made for us!

Go Go Go!

I turned two not too long before Dad was left  the FBI. The photos I have scanned are from about the time of my second birthday. The first 2 are from what looks like our place in Maryland and the final 3 are on South Wayne Street in Lewistown.

Crazy B*tch

Rubber pants and compression socks. I was a regular fashion plate.

Love the sneakers and red jumpsuit. I wonder what I thought about the doll.

Second birthday celebration at Grammy's. We moved into this house soon after this.

I would say, "Go, Go, Go" as I held 2 fingers in the air. It showed I was turning two.

My Baby Book

Some photos from 1962 and 1963 from my baby memory book.

Looks like a warm day, thus 1962. Drooling like always while visiting on the back walk on South Wayne Street.

A real smile and a real laugh. The beer bottle has always had us joking that I was drunk in this photo. 1962 - 1963.

Early 1963 since it was probably a big deal I was standing n my own.

Shoes mean I was probably walking in 1963. I remember the scarecrow doll but not the apartment in DC.