The Real Easter Bonnet


I seem to start so many of these “retro” posts with the words, “When I was little…” that it was getting monotonous. So to break things up a bit–I’ll begin a bit differently. Here goes.

Back in my day–

Easter meant a couple of things. One, of course, was bunnies and baskets and tons of colored candy eggs. But what it also meant was a positively perfect pink or yellow or lilac sticky-out-y dress. They were fussy and stiff and scratchy, but that didn’t matter one tiny bit–because, as you can see, we also got a matching hat, and gloves and ruffly socks and a teeny, tiny, boxy, slightly ridiculous clasp purse to complete the ensemble.

But the down side was that back then, the whole wide world was entirely black and white.

Kind of a drag.

So glad this generation invented color.

Way to go.

Rewind

Have you ever stood back and felt like someone had their finger on the “fast forward” button of your life?

Actually I feel that way all the time.

I very clearly remember my mom holding my hand in the grocery store.

Then not so long after that she was holding my brand new baby in her arms. More than once she said, “Watch very closely, because all this will go by so quickly.” I’m sure I smiled at her, but I didn’t “get it.”

Pretty sure I “get it” now…

…now, as I feed Natural Cheetos to my baby’s babies to entice them to stay in the car seat…

…now, as I play peek a boo with my second baby’s baby so that her momma can get a quick shower…

…now, as I watch my third baby bubble over with joy as she and her friends flit from one unbelievableĀ  adventure to another. This is her winter concert with the Sterling Singers. Amazing.

…now, as I write letters to my fourth baby—my far, far away son and try to pretend–in front of everyone else–that thinking of him doesn’t make me cry…still.

…now, as I watch my very last baby—backing confidently out of the driveway, on his way to work as if he’s some kind of grown-up or something.

It seems to me that if there absolutely is a

then certainly, certainly

it stands to reason that

there must also be a…

oh, please…

could we find…

the…

?

Baby Birdy Bath

My mom used to show us this picture and say, “No fancy tubs or perfumed soap–just a basin and some Ivory and it worked just fine.”

That’s my sweet little momma bathing my older brother, Andy—so you know this picture is VERY, very old because any big brother of mine would have to be ancient–which, of course, he is.

Ha!

Ok, ok. He’s not that old…just kinda old…

older that me anyway.

I’m just saying…

——————————–

Happy Birthday Lynnette!

Funny Face

Now I know that these old photo machines are still around here and there—K-Mart, arcades,Ā  and even as rentals for teen parties—but back in my day they served a difference purpose other than just goofy entertainment.

Do you youngsters realize that before the fabulous digital camera age–you know, where you point and shoot and then just delete the ugly stuff–these little booths were really the only places that the common folk could get a picture taken and take it home right now. No waiting for a week or so to have them developed and hoping for the best. Of course they came in that funky strip but it was wonderfully fast so you just learned to take the good with the…

not so good.

Obviously.

Lucky for all y’all April was one cute baby…

or this would have been a very uncomfortable post…

for…

one of us.