

So I am continuing on with my “growing up” series-
We are going way back to 1978, Kindergarten, student of Hamilton Martin (no longer around!), riding a little tiny school bus to and from school, living in Pittsburgh, PA…and just a happy little girl.
I love school photos and all of their horrid backgrounds and cheesy photographers. For most people this is a constant reminder of their youth- and a reminder of bad hair styles and clothing options. This shot, however, I loved the dress I was wearing it was one of my favorites…perhaps it was because my older sister wore it for HER Kindergarten shot and I always admired my older siblings (still do!).
Being the youngest of 3 girls, I always have felt pretty lucky. I never went through a really goofy stage because my older sisters influenced my music and fashion tastes…I never felt spoiled even thought I spent most of my teenage years as an only child…I never was irresponsible because, well, I already saw my sister’s learning from their mistakes.
I am a fortunate person, I know. My parents were fair, my sisters loved me…BUT I did have my share of teasing from one of them. Like my sister Susan and her friend prancing around in my training bra OR feeding me Worcesthire sauce thinking I was getting chocolate. How stupid was I?
I included a shot of Penelope because being the third, I think she is pretty lucky herself. She has two siblings she can easily boss around and they will do as she says (ahem, we are working on that!), she has 4 laps always willing to have her plop herself into, and she gets to figure out the world through all of us nudging her along…
This summer, I am taking my family back to where I grew up. I’ll also have the pleasure in showing my kids my childhood home and all of the winding roads and hills of Pennsylvania. I can’t wait to go back and feel like that little girl in the photograph.

A few weeks ago, I found my husband scanning a bunch of photos from our early years. Over the past few years I have been in denial that I have hundreds of photographs just thrown into boxes, envelopes, plastic bags…you get the idea.
For me, photos just bring back a flood of memories and sensations of the past in a really intense sort of way. I can feel the soft skin of my first born or just imagine the 100+ temperature/humidity on our wedding day. When we first moved back to the Chicago area from LA I couldn’t even go near my photograph box. I was extremely emotional about leaving and could not even find photos to put up in our house. It’s not that I loved LA so much, but it was because I had roots, friends, family and a sense of history.
I suppose I have a bittersweet relationship with my photographs. I treasure them and love to use my camera daily, but I also keep them at a distance. Crazy, huh?
Thankfully some of the photos are just SO old that I don’t have the denial I once had toward them…I like that part in my relationship with photos…
Anyway, what is the whole purpose in this post?! Every Friday, I will share a photo from the past (and maybe organize my stash!). Whether it’s from my childhood in Pennsylvania or my college years in California- I’ll write a bit of the time and hopefully it will be of interest to some of you!
Okay- so this shot is from 1991. Nathan (my husband) and I had just met one another and we were on an Art Department camping trip to see Christo’s umbrellas. It was my first time driving a mini-van (borrowed from the university), dashing LA freeways, and really camping under a beautiful star-lit sky. We were both 18 and freshman in college. At that time we were “friends”, but I think we will both admit we were quite smitten over one another.
It was such an exciting time in my life. New friends, new world, and totally cool boy that I had all those “butterfly” feelings toward. Look how young!!