I've been thinking of writing an autobiography or memoir but it just never comes together for me but I figured if I write one story at a time and post it on my blog maybe once a month, I can do that. Maybe one day I'll pull all the stories together and put them in a book but for now I'll just share some stories with you about my childhood and into adulthood. Some of the stories will be happy, some sad and some horrific because that was my childhood. But they will all be real, things that actually happened. If it seems like something that people enjoy reading maybe I'll keep it going. These stories will not be in any kind of order, I'll just write them as they come to me.
Some Good Times
I realize that a lot of what I've written over the years has been pretty bad stuff, but it wasn't all bad. There were some good times as well. So how about I share some of those today.
My parents split and got divorced in 1981. They didn't get along for a few years afterwards. This was taken in 1984 at Christmas. My mom invited my dad over for Christmas dinner with all of us. And everyone got along surprisingly.
Christmas dinner was me, my brother, our mom and dad, my mom's mother (grandma) and grandma's new husband, Buster. For the most part my parents got along from this part forward. My parents were divorced at this time.
My dad liked to take us all for drives along the Pacific Coast Highway in California. We would get out and take pictures. For the most part I always liked going for a drive with my dad. I loved going to the beach. This is my dad with me and my brother.
During the Summers we would usually drive from California to Utah to visit my grandma (dads mom). This is my brother Billy, me and our grandma. She was a very nice lady. This was in 1980, I was 10.
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After my parents divorced, my mom started dating Larry. I've written about him before. In the Summer of 1982 my mom and Larry took my brother Billy and me to a few different places. This was Moro Rock in California, and we stayed there to see some sights and visit Crystal Cave. It's in or right near where you enter Sequoia National Park in California. We stayed in Sequoia as well at that time. My brother and I climbed the 350 steps to reach the top of this rock a couple of times. I wish I had that kind of energy and endurance now! I had a lot of fun in Sequoia. The tree's there are so massively large.
This is me, my brother and our mom at the top of Moro Rock. It was such a beautiful view from up there.
I was living with my grandma after my parents divorced but for my 12th birthday my mom came to visit and got my ears pierced. She also bought me this outfit. Those are red corduroy pants. lol
When I was a kid we had a dog named Poochie. He was a Cocker Spaniel/Poodle mix. This is me holding Poochie when we went for one of my dads famous drives. This is somewhere in California but not sure where.
My brother, Billy and I have always been close. My brother pointed out not too long ago that in most all of our pictures together I'm hugging him or have my arm around him. We went through a lot together so I think that's why we are so close, because we only had each other to count on. That's our mom in the background.
Me and my brother, Billy again. I had just left West Virginia and come to Las Vegas when this was taken. We lived in this tiny camper next to us with our mom. My mom was happy to have us with her and she had stopped drinking for a while.
This was taken in 1986 at Big Bear Lake, California. This is me, my aunt Wanda and my mom. We were out on a boat on Big Bear lake. My mom and her brother Jack had rented a cabin in Big Bear and we stayed there for a few days. I always loved Big Bear and the cabins. We were there during the Winter months so there was a little snow on the ground too. We had a great time there. I was 16 and taller than my mom and aunt both. lol
1986 my brother and I. We both look pretty happy here. For a time we were happy. I can look back at this time and smile at some of the things we did and some of the trouble we got into. Were we trouble makers? Maybe? lol
For comparison, this is my brother and I taken this year.
This is my grandma who I was living with after my parents divorced. She is on her car. I believe this was a 1969 Ford Mustang Convertible. Man, she loved this car. She was a character as you can tell. I lived with her from 1981 to 1982. It was a little over a year but it was a time in my life that I felt the safest.
My 8th grade graduation. I'm the one in the pink dress on the right. My friend is in the blue dress on the left. My mom actually took me dress shopping and bought the dress for me. She took me to the hair salon and had my hair done. She bought me my first pair of heels for the dress, they were only 1 inch high but still my first heels. My mom came to the graduation ceremony and took pictures. She never came to any school functions so this was unusual. Afterwards my grandparents took us all out to eat. It was a good day.
I hope you enjoyed the look back through some old pictures and some good times in my life.
Links to past stories
2023
2024
I'm glad to hear there were some pleasant times along with all the nightmares.
ReplyDeleteNot surprising that you and your brother became close, both having to go through everything you did.
There were some good times. We are very close.
DeleteThese are poignant. Our grandie went to his first prom last week.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading about your past. This is a good way to document them.
Thank you.
DeleteI really like that you are still hugging your brother.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad we're still close.
DeletePhotographs bring back all the memories, and you had some good ones there.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteI see lots of smiles in these photos and that is probably the best way to remember family. You and your brother looked almost like twins when you were teens, how fun! Life takes crazy turns and the children have no control, just hang on the best we can.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I appreciate that.
DeleteIt's important to remember the good times too, even if those memories can sometimes be bittersweet.
ReplyDeleteI agree.
DeleteWhat a lot of fun family photos! It's nice that you have so many good memories, too. :D
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteLove seeing all the pictures!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad, thank you.
DeleteI don’t know the nightmares, but these seem like good memories.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteI really love all your pictures! It's such a treasure to have that kind of record of your life, especially when they can remind you of the good times in the bad, too.
ReplyDeleteThank you, I appreciate that.
DeleteI get a feeling of nostalgia looking at your pictures because we are about the same age so styles and photos I have look similar. And my dad used to take us on road trips and campouts in similar places. I'm so glad you remember some golden times, too.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I'm glad you have some fond memories from your pictures too.
DeleteIt's healthy to look back on the positive times.
ReplyDeleteIt is.
DeleteWonderful post about the good times.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteWhat nice memories. I'm glad you enjoyed the good times.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteMy brother in laws mother disappeared during the 90s and Remerged later. Coming back into his life and strangely inviting herself as a guest to her ex husbands family events
ReplyDeleteI see her every Christmas 🎄 I pity her honestly. She's kinda of a sad and lonely old woman.
Adam
NEKORANDOM.COM
That is kinda weird and sad.
DeleteBeautiful memories of good times, Mary.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteWe're pretty close in age. I have a similar picture from my 8th grade graduation. My dress was off white. Although, the pictures were taken by my and my friends. (My family was there, I'm sure. I didn't end up with their pictures.)
ReplyDeleteSorry you didn't get the pictures.
DeleteThanks for sharing those photos and happy memories. It was funny seeing all the outfits ove the years!
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, the outfits were something.
DeleteThank for sharing some of the good stuff! I too remember when I made it up to the top of Moro Rock. No longer.🤣
ReplyDeleteI could never hike up to the top now either.
DeleteIt was really nice to see some of the good times!
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteYes, we all have a story.
ReplyDeleteYes we do.
DeleteWonderful happy memories, Mary. The photos are good to see, and you looked beautiful in all of them.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much.
DeleteIt is interesting that unlike brother dearest, you do not look much older in face in that fresh photo and the one when you were a girl.
ReplyDeleteWell thank you. My brother has a lot more health problems than I do right now.
DeleteSome great memories here and fun travels! I love Morro Rock. Didn't know you could climb onto it. It's nice that you and your brother had each other to lean on over the years. No one else gets your upbringing like a sibling. My sister and I are close.
ReplyDeleteThat's very true. Not sure I would make it to the top these days.
DeleteI think it's great to reflect upon the good times. A lot of yours were with your brother and when you were outdoors!
ReplyDeleteYes they were. We had some fun times.
DeleteI loved seeing all the photos of you, Mary!
ReplyDeleteThank you. It was fun going through all the photo albums.
DeleteIt is nice to read about more pleasant times in your childhood. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteGlad there were some very happy moments in your life. The photos, smiles and your brother have cherished memories to share forever.
ReplyDeleteThank you, I appreciate that.
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