The Fall of 1976 is virtually lost to the ages. There appears to be no recorded evidence of my fifth birthday, Halloween, or Thanksgiving. I’m sure that having a new child roaming around stirred up enough excitement and picture-taking opportunities for everyone. Just so Denise doesn’t get too cocky in thinking that she is much younger than me, this proves that there existed black and white snapshots of her as a baby as well.
Denise plays with the ashtray under the coffee table
Denise is permitted to play with my puzzle (and her shoe)…
…which didn’t sit too well with me
Yes, Denise was seemingly getting the bulk of the attention. However there was one event that took place during the Fall of ’76 which solely focussed on me and which I still recall to this day. I loved to get outside and ride my bike and naturally being just five years old, my bike had training wheels on it. One day I got the notion that I wanted to try and ride without the training wheels. My parents warned me that if they took them off, they were not putting them back on. I agreed and was soon attempting my first ‘solo flight’. I still recall the jubilation of the wind blowing in my face as I sailed across the front lawn on just two wheels. I don’t think I’ve ever had a prouder moment of accomplishment in all my life.
As we got ready for the holiday season – Denise’s first one ever – I spent some of my time out in the snow with neighborhood girls Andrea Ferrenberg and Carol Applegate crafting the world’s ugliest and most ridiculous snowman in the history of snowmankind. (Saturday mornings however still resonated indoors with my favorite cartoons like Bugs Bunny, the live action Monster Squad, and periodic interruptions of In the News).
Me and our hunk-o-junk snowman
Me, Carol Applegate, and Andrea Ferrenberg find fun in the back of Dad’s pickup truck
Andrea, Carol, and I show off our handiwork
Virtually the same photo – with Carol’s hood down
And finally, as if the shots could get any more random or ridiculous, there is a cute family portrait of us. I believe that this was taken at Bill and Dottie’s house. Their family did a sitting in front of my Dad’s camera as well.
Our fine looking family and my fine looking shins
The concurrent photo of the other set of F*rrells
1976 will conclude with Christmas…
Your snowman looks like one of The Herculoids….do you remember them?
Dave Chasteen
February 17th, 2008
I’ve only had kidney stones. I’ve never experienced the Herculoids!
Brad
February 17th, 2008
Good one! That picture brings back memories.
Dave Chasteen
February 17th, 2008
Yes, you definitely don’t want to make your younger sibling too much younger…lol 😉
Amber
February 20th, 2008
Yes, I remember that infamous snow-man. Maybe I just remember the pictures… Its hard to tell… I am getting old, you know.
Andrea Ferrenberg
February 20th, 2008