Monday, April 11, 2011

What You See Is What You Get

"It's Spring, kids! Get in front of the forsythia!"

MB, you first!

Next up, Ann!

Nice haircut, Ellie!

Open your eyeballs, Julie-girl!

Jane! Yo, pixie!

Awww, look at our little blonde cutie-patootie. 
Well, it's either Jacquie or her daughter; I'm not sure which. 

I've been going through old photo albums lately. Lots of them. Loads and loads of them. We are a well-documented family. But what stands out for me, from the miles and miles of Christmas and Thanksgiving and especially Easter -- how many times a year does Easter arrive anyway? -- photos, are the casual, day-in-the-life photos. Like when Mom gets home from tennis and she and her man and all her girls spill out into the yard for an impromptu photo-shoot.

We were geeks, yes. But we were happy. And we thought we were cool, which is half the battle. Plus Julie and Jane sported the most spectacular trousers this side of 1970.

Mom has always had great legs.

MB got to take the sacred camera in hand occasionally, for the obligatory Mom-and-Dad shot.

And Mom would grab the camera for the obligatory Dad-in-the-photo shot. I remember this day; I remember this era. I was slightly too small to pick up Jacquie, and she was slightly too big to be in my arms, but that didn't stop us . . .

. . . not for one second.

Oh, and you're wondering about my t-shirt?

What You See Is What You Get, baby.

Oh, you better believe it.

10 comments:

Imperatrix said...

You all look so cute! And boy, are you right: your mom looks fab-u-lous. In my family, it was the monster azalea in the front yard that was the backdrop to yearly spring pictures. So fun looking back on those now.

Me, You, or Ellie said...

I forgot to include 3 things:

1. Dad -- check him out: he's smoking a cigar.

2. Yobo -- an Airedale lover emailed me this morning, asking about our beloved childhood pooch. "Is she still alive?" she asked. "The photos were taken in 1973," I replied. "Yes, she's 42 now."

3. Flip Wilson -- we were huge fans of his show -- huge! -- and *that* is the explanation behind my t-shirt. That was his character Geraldine's catchphrase. Brill.

Ellie

Mom c said...

I love this Ellie, I thought it was a cigarette in dad's hand - who's cuter - dad or Yobo.... xoxo mom

Me, You, or Ellie said...

You are so right about those pants! Fab-u-los?

And wow -- look at your parents! Such great hair:-) (And legs, of course!)

I'm a bit miffed to be viewing this on my phone. I need to see these photos up close! I'll need to re-check them later for sure.

Nice post!

xoxo,
Beth

martyjoco said...

Jacquie, as usual: cool shoes!

Me, You, or Ellie said...

Oh my, the pants! The chokers! The shoes! The hairdos! I'm sorry to have been so obviously the cutest. That must have been hard for the rest of you. Wasn't this the day mom and dad came home from vacation? They brought the little ones "Virginia is for Lovers" tshirts, that is awesome. Man, it all just comes rushing back, doesn't it? I can't wait to show my kids.

xoxox

Jacquie

Me, You, or Ellie said...

Um, Jacquie? Mom and Dad and the *Big Ones* got home from vacation...

So, yes, you were cute. Really cute. But not so cute you didn't have to stay home with Sittoo.

xxxxx

E.

Me, You, or Ellie said...

Ohhhh, that's right. Shit. But Sitoo also thought I was the cutest, thus the most deserving of copious amounts of hot dogs. And pickles. And hostess snacks. I bet mom and dad made you guys eat soggy pb&j and mushy apples.

Win!

Jacquie

Me, You, or Ellie said...

Oh, no. We went out for every meal. We got to ignore our main course, eat all our french fries, and have as many sodas as we wanted!

E.

Unknown said...

Ahhh, being left home...that explains why the J, J & J all have the Virginia t-shirts on. Great photo's, and I did enjoy the homemade choker, nice touch.