Through efforts by Jennifer Herr, here are some real relics (And Reljacs)

Thanks Jennifer!

John and Anna's marriage certificate

 

Anna's baptisimal certificate

 

John's baptisimal certificate

So here you are in the middle of a crummy, cold, beginning-of-winter kind of day, and suddenly WHOOSH! You are taken back to a better time through pictures emailed out of the blue. With fond memories and just a tinge of melancholy, images of people who are part of your life and legacy appear before you..

They arrived in quite a roundabout manner. Terri forwarded them, having received them from Pat who in turn got them from Gil.  “Them” being the pictures, sharing these prized artifacts from years gone by is Gil’s birthday gift to his big sister, (Ain’t email and scanners just great?). So I look at the photos and see family history in the making.

There’s Dad (That would be Chuck, Uncle Chuck or Grandpap to you) with Pat and Gil, probably in the midst of one of his many visits to Parma. It would seem to be a casual photo from a forgotten time. No, affirms Pat – it was taken in 1946 at the corner of 14^th and Denison. Must have been memorable for some reason.

Pat, Dad and Gil

Â

 Then there is Dad (You know… Chuck etc.) with Gil, Pat and Uncle Skinny in the back yard of the house in Parma.

Dad, Gil Pat and Uncle Skinny at Aunt Mary’s

Oh, to time travel back to Aunt Mary and Uncle Roy’s house again! I’d wake up to sun streaming through the windows, the scent of breakfast floating up the stairs along with gentle laughs and conversation going on in the kitchen. It was a long ride from Pittsburgh the night before, especially since I slept curled on the back seat floor, using the transmission hump as a pillow. Meanwhile, Terri and Peggy had the luxury of sleeping on the back seat.

After a quick bite to eat, I would rush to the basement for a few minutes of play on the one armed bandit using nickels from the copper cup. Sitting on the bar stool, I’d pretend to be cool like the older guys. I may even have a root beer and convince myself it says Iron City on the bottle. What a great place for a kid to hang out!

I’d then run into what seemed to be a huge backyard to play. Only later did I realize that Aunt Mary’s shiny lawn ball turned the yard into a vast expanse. Staring into that ball I could see all known horizons and beyond. If the yard wasn’t that big, please don’t tell me. I prefer my child’s eye view.

 And look at his profile. No wonder they called him “Skinny”

 So how about photo number 3?

Pat is not sure where it was taken but I think I have a pretty good idea. So let’s have a friendly contest. Can you name everyone in the picture and where you think it was taken?

I’ll spot you one – Grandpap is on the left

 You can post your answer in the comments section. Now, try to answer without peeking at what others may have written.

 Thank goodness for Kodak, brownie cameras and the simplification of photography. This brings it all back.

And thanks Gil, for brightening an otherwise dreary day. As Pat so aptly put it. So many wonderful memories.