My first birthday was October 2, 1972. I guess there was quite a fuss made. In fact, the folks had two different birthday parties for me at our house on John Glenn – the first with my Mom’s family and the second with my Dad’s family. Since my birthday fell on a Monday, I have to assume that the celebrations were held over the prior weekend – and our clothes indicate they were on different days. Dad took a couple of minutes of Super 8mm footage of each of the gatherings.
Among my gifts at the first party were a musical rocking chair (which you can read more about here) and a red stool from my Mom and Dad, a snow suit from Grandma and Grandpa Murphy, a plastic black and blue t-shirt from Bev and Ed (at least according to my baby book – God knows what that was!), and a helicopter pull toy from Cathy and Lori (probably paid for by Diana and Tom). Great Grandma Murphy, who was living in Fredericksburg, Virginia did not attend the gathering, but sent along a card and $5.00. From the movie footage, one can see Darlene – who was just about to turn ten herself – assisting me with my blocks, and Grandpa being his usual helpful self and tickling me with my new carpet roller thingy.
Mom presents me with my first cake
Mom opens the new blocks from Bev and Ed, while I mind the carpet roller
With new block and rod in hand
Darlene plays while Grandpa tickles
Mom, Bev, Ed. Grandma, Darlene, and Grandpa all ignore me
Dad comes to the rescue; Ed reclines in the foreground
Trying to decide between the bow and the new shirt from Bev and Ed
I’ve made my decision
The second gathering was with my Dad’s family. Since Rob’s birthday is just 13 days after mine, we began the early tradition here of having a simultaneous celebration of each of our birthdays – which would sometimes include a combined cake, but not in this case. Here he was celebrating his fourth birthday. Bill and Dottie gave me some pajamas for my gift. Grandma Range gave me $5.00 and a baby box, Carl and Arline gave me another pair of pajamas and a green shirt, John and Pat gave a spare set of Rack-o-Stack rings (don’t tell them I already had one!), Harold brought me a Jolly Jalopy pull toy, and Joe and Hazel kicked in $2.00.
A cake apiece
I’m jealous of Robby’s cake – more fire
Oh the chocolaty goodness
Carl, Grandma Range, Lora, Rob, Joe, and Hazel
Ha! I’m getting toys and Robby is getting clothes!
Bill, Arline, and Harold watch Mom assist me with the gifts
Rob can’t sit still
Opening my new Rack-o-Stack
All in all, it was a swell introduction to birthday parties. I enjoyed the cake and the camraderie and vowed at that time to have another one the following year.
The leftovers were awesome too!
I am surprised how well your photos from that era are preserved. The colors are crisp and vibrant. Most of ours are faded to the red end of the spectrum and many have orange streaks and stars appearing in them.
The grabs from the Super 8 film are quite good too.
Dave Chasteen
March 16th, 2008
I normally used Kodachrome, on which the colors are very stable, even from when it was first introduced in the 30’s. The early Ektachrome, which was produced for ease of processing, usually takes a magenta cast over time.
Dad
March 16th, 2008
I think you couldn’t read your mom’s bubble lettering. I believe it said plastic blocks and a blue t-shirt. I’m sure I didn’t get you a plastic black and blue t-shirt. My pattern for kids gifts has always been something fun for the kid and something, like clothes, to be practical that the mom would appreciate for the kid.
And I didn’t realize that Ed’s reclining and resting or taking naps at family gatherings started, or rather, always has been a trait of his, since the beginning of our marriage.
Bev
March 16th, 2008
Now, I know why Paul Simon wrote a song about Kodachrome. The colors are fantastic. I had no idea they developed it back in the 1930’s.
Dave Chasteen
March 20th, 2008
Bev is totally right on this one. In fact, the Super 8 footage shows me opening the plastic blocks which clearly say on the package that they are from Aunt Bev and Uncle Ed.
This is all Mom’s fault as her handwriting was utterly sub-par at this time.
Brad
March 22nd, 2008
Hey – I had nice hand writing, you just can’t read very well!!! And, as you mention in your caption, you got “plastic BLOCKS” from Aunt Bev and Uncle Ed!
Barb/Mom
March 23rd, 2008