My Summer Walk (In Autumn)

For all of last Summer, I walked these paths pondering what I knew would be an upcoming major life change.  

Today, in Autumn, with that change having taken place, I'm blessed with greater peace and more light.

Though this has been a transitional time filled with challenges, some hurt (and a lot of soul searching) the overwhelming positivity around this shift was never more clear than it was (on my first walk in the park in over a month) today.

Sometimes, when we get quiet, we find out who we really are and what we really want.
We only have to have the courage to accept it, claim it and ask for the right guidance along the way.

Again, MANY thanks to the friends and family who've continued to contribute to this breakthrough.
I took these photos today for all of you, reflecting back the love and kindness you have shown me.

Bowties, Drum Kits & Striped Pyjamas

Another look back at my grandparents' Hoyt Avenue apartment in Staten Island.  Growing up, I would always run across album prints of posed shots showing my Mom, Aunt Karen and Uncle Kevin in their striped holiday pyjamas, but the more casual shots of them actually playing with toys seemed to be on these slides.  I'm glad to have had a more candid look at the playful side of Christmas 1957 and I know my family is as well.

Parties, Pinafores & Potato Sacks

 

After a recent look at the DVD I made of the family slides, my Mom was reminiscing about how wonderfully simple yet completely joyful kids' birthday parties were in the 1950s and 60s.  Party favors here included small sombreros and what appear to be yoyos.  The taste of fruit flavored soda against the texture of a paper cup is such a "hyperactive sugar rush at the kids' table" moment.  Here's my Mom at the head of the table, celebrating with my Uncle Kevin (on left, peeking out below) and my cousin Dianne to his left.  My cousin Ricky is seen in the lower left.  Did anyone catch the color of the canary he just swallowed?

My Mom and Uncle Kevin are seen above in their Easter Sunday Best while my Great Grandmother Mae is seen below between my cousins Dianne and Lois.  This slide was unmarked (as were many others) so I'm guessing they're dressed in either confirmation dresses or flower girl gowns for a wedding.

Mom and Aunt Karen look great in their matching sailor suits (which were probably home-sewn from a Simplicity pattern) but why doesn't my Uncle Kevin have one? 

And here we move toward Summertime's picnics and games...

What picnic is complete without a toilet paper race?