Friday, February 13, 2009

Blast from the past

I'm back. I know I haven't posted since Monday, but I have a good excuse. Actually, I have a great excuse. I had a little relapse. Okay, a big relapse. My cough got so bad that I had to go for an emergency breathing treatment - so as to continue breathing in and out the way that I have come to enjoy so much. I will tell you that asthma and bad colds do NOT go together. I now have some drugs and a new inhaler that are helping immensely, and I feel like I'm finally on the mend. The good news is that I did not get pneumonia this time, and that is a huge improvement on the last cold.

I've also been feeling a bit down, as the days pass without word from the woman I believe to be my birth mother. She's had the letter for well over a week now, and still no contact from her. I know she may need more time, but each day seems so long as I wait for her to have a change of heart. As time passes, I am more and more sure that she is indeed the right woman. If she wasn't my birth mother, I think she would have already called. I keep hoping that she will - at the very least - provide the medical history I need, and tell me the name of my birth father, although I think this one is less likely. There have to be some painful memories there, and who knows if she can get past them?

While I've been resting/coughing/choking, I have been looking through my collection of photos, picking some out to scan. Hallie over at Wonderful World of Wieners has offered to help me scan a bunch of old pictures with her snazzy new scanner. Isn't she nice? I took the first batch over there on Monday night, coincidentally just before the big relapse. Hmm. I'm sure one thing had nothing to do with the other. Anyway, I thought I'd share a few with you - mostly the ones that Hallie laughed at the most. I'm not even going to pretend that I didn't think they were funny, too.
My brother and I in our snazzy clothes on a snazzy couch with that mod triangle pillow and those groovy drapes. Honestly, what the heck am I wearing? 1960 was a good year for fashion, I guess.

My birthday photo. Don't you love the juxtaposition of the big round collectible plate and my big round head? I especially like the outlet placement. This was taken in my grandmother's kitchen. Some of you may remember that my grandparents lived in an apartment that was part of the big farmhouse I grew up in, so I spent a lot of time on these gray vinyl chairs with the chrome knobby accents. Good times.

There were about a hundred of these photos. Different poses, different outfits. All the same. Those are real roses in my hair, by the way. I remember my mother picking them and being worried about thorns.



Just a bunch of cool teenagers on an exciting double date. I'm the one in that beautiful, hand-sewn red-checked blouse and the high-waisted denim wraparound skirt (also hand-sewn). You can't see it, but that blouse had SNAPS instead of buttons. Say it with me, "WHAT A LOSER!" Also in this shot are my boyfriend, who would go on to become my husband, my friend Vicki and her date Mark. We're making homemade pizza at my house. Notice the high-tech Dixie cup dispenser in my kitchen. I only wish you could see the avocado and orange carpet tiles on the floor. Really. I'm not kidding.

My dorm mates sometime during my freshman year at college. Can you find me in my big perm and my signature Stevie Nicks shirt? You can't tell here, but I was rocking the sleeves-like-wings outfit. I was nothing if not fashion forward. My beloved roommate is in the back row in a tan sweater. She's still one of my favorite people in the world and the closest thing to a sister I ever had.

Okay, now before you pass out from laughing, I want you to know I had a good reason to look like this. Honestly, I did. I was working for a newspaper, and they had a float in the local parade. We were dressed up to look like old-fashioned newsboys, and we carried those canvas sacks and heaved newspapers at the crowd. I know I look ridiculous, but I still think Brandon was the cutest thing ever in his little hat.

This is the one Hallie mocked the most. Me as a giant pink blob. She accused me of wearing a big housedress or my nightgown. First of all, I was at a wedding when I was nine months pregnant. In AUGUST. It was hot and humid and I was lucky to find anything that fit me. I had been allowed up from my ordered bed rest to attend the wedding of a dear friend of mine. I think I looked pretty good, considering the circumstances. Second of all, the dress wasn't that bad. It was actually a pretty pink cotton fabric which had everything one needs in a maternity dress: it breathed, and it fit over my giantness. Here's another view of it:

See? Not that bad, right? Okay, the big wide collar was kinda hideous, but that was the style back then. I don't care, anyway. It was the last photo taken of me with my one little boy before I had two little boys, and it makes my heart contract just looking at it. That's what is so good about looking at old pictures - it helps you remember those special moments. And it gives you the opportunity to have a good laugh, even if it is at your own expense!

25 comments:

Wonderful World of Weiners said...

Glad I could help out with your scanning needs. I think it's very rude of you to imply that there just MIGHT be a connection between your visit to my house and your relapse. The ONLY thing that I could be blamed for would be if you came down with a severe case of DOG SLOBBER-ITIS. Cuz Chauncey did try to lick you all over that night. And what his tongue couldn't get at, his paws did. For some reason, that dog worships you...even AFTER seeing you in that ginormous pink sheath you called a dress.

Btw...you know my bday is Monday - could I talk you into making ME a tablecloth shirt with SNAPS???

Hallie :)

Joanie said...

Great photos, ME!! Thanks for sharing!

Laura Marchant said...

I love looking at photos! I have to say the groovy triangle pillow was awesome :-)

Kim said...

What good is a picture from the past if you can't get a good chuckle from it, right?

Unknown said...

ME..It is so good to hear you are doing better, finally! Without a doubt each passing day, must be so very painful...I am sorry.
As for the pictures, Hey...we are about the same age, so I totally get it. I too sewed many of my clothes back 'in the day' and oh my goodness! Would I wear them today? Hell no! But I was rockin' back then! (or so I thought).
You are awesome, ME!!!!!!


~AM

As Cape Cod Turns said...

Sorry Hallie made you relapse! Glad that you are feeling better now!

I too had a picnic table shirt with snaps, but I didn't hand make it.

No comment on your husband to be's paisley shirt?! YIKES!

Love the pink mumu thingy. Before you said you were at a wedding, I thought it was a housecoat too. Oops, sorry!

I love old pictures!!!!

Alice said...

OK...ballerina picture...A.D.O.R.A.B.L.E.

The pic of you 9 months pregnant...I'm not going to even touch cause that will be me in July!!

Love, love, love the old photos. Add more please.

(And glad you're feeling better!)

Abby Reed said...

You are absolutely adorable. I love it when you post pictures.

Unknown said...

I love old photos of any kind. and that dress was very in styler! i assume it was the Princess-Di-era???

(and I hope bio mom contacts you soon. she must be stressing on her end)

Laura ~Peach~ said...

glad you are feeling better even though if like me laughing causes horrid coughing spells... so it is ALL Hallies Fault LOL.
I hope you hear from the bio...
Love love ALL the old pics and the pink dress well it served its purpose and you make it look good!

Joni said...

A nice trip down memory lane and I swear your descriptions could double for some of my own photos! Glad you are feeling better.

Scriptor Senex said...

I thought "How cruel to laiugh at you", until I came to the housedress/nightgown/wedding dress/ pregnancy cover. Guffaw! Yet another advantage we blokes have in not being the child-bearing sex!

Nonna said...

Sweet...I think we had the same maternity dresses way back when...I need to get a scanner for our old pictures too ! LOL

for a different kind of girl said...

Sorry you had a relapse. I thought I was semi-well enough yesterday to go to work, but was there less than an hour before the constant coughing forced me to come home. I've spent two days now waiting for my lungs to come out my nose!

knittergran said...

People should stop laughing; we all have those pictures, and anyway, you look HAPPY in them and that is what counts!

kim-d said...

In the birthday picture, the one with the birthday cake that is bigger than you? We could have been sisters at that age; we looked very much alike at that age!

And you were stylin', my friend! I found ALL of your clothes to be quite era-appropriate. As for your pretty pink pregnancy dress? To be honest, I'd still rather see that than some of what is worn now. Like tight t-shirts. I'm sorry, but ewwww. Besides, who cares what you were wearing; look at that darling little boy!!! :)

I'm so glad your chances of remaining alive are finally improving a little. By the way, did you ever finish Blind Faith? And, yes, I did read those Ann Rule books.

Odette said...

Awwwww Those pics are all great! You looked so cute with your bro! Oh and yes Brandon was the cutest thing ever with his little newsboy hat on! :)

claudia said...

Love love love these pictures!
You are the most adorable, baby, ballerina, teenager!
And you do really nicely as a pregnant mommy too! Love the dress from the wedding, I think I had a few of those myself. Hallie is just jealous!
May I say, you have the prettiest eyes!
Sorry on the length of time that it's taking to get word back from your letter. Hang in there, this is probably nerve wracking for your birth mom too.

Tonjia said...

Yay for no pneumonia!! Love the pics, especially the ballerina pose!

OMG are those hairdo's direct from the 70's or what?

Elenka said...

Enjoyed looking at your pics. I wish your 'mom' could see your blog...she would contact you immediately!
Happy Valentine's Day.

Reddirt Woman said...

And the headlines read, "Hysterical Laughter In Maine Residence Causes Asthmatic Woman To Have Relapse".

It is all Hallie's fault. Knowing how sick you've been, she shoulda packed up that jazzy, hi-tech scanner and brought it to your house so you didn't have to get out in the cold...

Helen

Reddirt Woman said...

Oh,BTW, GREAT PHOTOS... What is it we all love about old photos? Is it truly the hilarity factor? Or is it the "Awwwww" factor? I don't rightly know, but I love looking at them.

Helen

Cupcake Blonde said...

I am sure she is going to call you. She probably just needs more time. Or maybe she is composing a letter to you herself.

I loved the pictures. A time table of who you are and great moments in your life. You were an adorable little kid that turned into a beautiful woman. And I love the Stevie Nicks shirt. Would totally be in now if you still have it. :)

Unknown said...

Great pics!

I'm going to have to root around and dig up some of me, now that you've done it. I never had a blouse or a perm, but trust me, I had bad clothes.

kim-d said...

Good Sunday Morning, Mary Ellen. Just wanted to let you know I'm thinking of you. We gotta get you better soon, Woman. I'm working on ways to make you have a relapse.

BWAHAHAHAHA!

No, not really. But, seriously, I can't wait to talk to you again.