This week’s Foto Friday Fun features 9 images chosen by readers from years of my life and joining in celebration for my 61st birthday, yesterday. Thanks for helping me reminisce through the years.
Our meme number for this week is 1955. Please link in any day this week by digging into your archives and sharing a photo and story on your blog. Plus check out the other posts linked to the Foto Friday Fun meme.
My parents named me Gail Lyn Olmsted on March 26, 1954. When married in 1980 I became Gail L O Woessner. After 17 years of marriage I divorced and changed my name to Gaelyn Loomis Olmsted. Loomis is my mother’s maiden name.
Yogi chose 1955, the year he was born in April and he’s already celebrating “60 days of pre-Birthday, the day, and then 60 days of post-Birthday. 121 days in all.” Why not all year? At one-year old looks like I was celebrating a bath in the kitchen sink. And 60 years later show a topless photo of myself to the world.
Cindy chose 1957, an era long before digital when Studio photos were popular.
Shane chose 1967. What a big difference 10 years makes to a little girl who became a teenager.
Cindy chose 1977 and 1997, “the Years of New Beginings.” I couldn’t find any photos from 1977 when I was living either in Mt View, CA or Carbondale, IL. 1997 was definitely a year of new beginnings, as I ventured out after divorce and spent my first winter in the AZ desert where I would sit outside and create wearable art with beads.
Diane chose 1963, “to celebrate our 10th year of living in Rhodesia.” I would have turned 10 the following year when we moved from my Hinsdale school to Downers Grove. Can you pick me out in this 4th grade class?
Sherry chose 2010, “the year I finally retired to live my dream.” Also a year for me to live a dream, my first visit to South Africa. I wish that everyone would live their dreams, but not the nightmares.
Elaine chose 2000, I hope this drunken Halloween shot doesn’t change her opinion of me. It was a jello-shot party when I worked at Eagle Cliff Resort in WA and I may have over indulged a bit.
Sallie chose 1958, “which is the year my oldest son was born.” She thinks that makes her old enough to be my mother but I believe she’s younger than her years. At four-years old Mom was still doing the Studio Photography thing, and the permanents for curly hair. Can you tell how scuffed up my knees are? Honestly, I was a tom-boy. But Mom liked to dress me up.
Jonker chose 2013, “the year we got to meet face to face for the first time.” And he proved to be a wonderful tour guide showing me around his fair city of Port Elizabeth, South Africa. I think my very next stop was the zip-line in Tsitsikamma. Hope we get to visit again Jonker.
My choice this week is a 1974 favorite I had taken for my parents.
And just a tease of my birthday visit to the Grand Canyon.
Please join in by:
1) Sharing a #1955 photo index number from your photo archives in a post on your blog with a story that goes with the photo. Then add the URL from that post to Mr. Linky below along with your name (Gaelyn, AZ), and link back to Foto Friday Fun 104 in your post so others may read and join in.
2) You can also leave a number between 01 and 9999 in a comment for next week’s Foto Friday Fun.
3) One or both of the above.
4) Spread the word.
First commenter will chose next week’s photo index number.
Do you have a favorite from this week?
Wonderful Birthday Post!! Thanks for the memories 🙂
Thank you Cindy. No number this week?
Too scared off Mr Linky after last time!! Are you the one in the second row, second from the right?
Lovely set of photos, you are lucky to have so many good memories. Hope you had a wonderful day.
Staying with the old favourite for the moment – 0071 for next week. Have a good weekend Diane
We all have stories to tell from our memories, yours are quite good also. I had a Grand day at the canyon. Have you down for #0071.
A wonderful collection of photos! I love your Halloween photo. Looks like you were having a great time! I really do like your shot of the reflection in the train–a lovely teaser! I’ll take 1250 for next week.
Thank you Elaine. Certainly not the most flattering of photos. But it was a fun party. Have you down for #1250.
BTW, I feel like I’m in AK this morning, woke up to 30F.
This was just a fantastic idea to celebrate your birthday. What a cutie you were and what a lovely teenager. Love that curly hair. I have those very same pictures from the 50’s. Big curly hair. I guess Shirley Temple was the rage? Seems that would have been a lot earlier. So glad I chose 2010. That joyous picture of you in South Africa is wonderful. Have you told the story of how and why you first stepped out to go there? Can’t wait to see the birthday train post. Fabulous picture! Let me have 6878 for next week please.
I had an Aunt who wanted me named Shirley, after the Temple. You’ll find the beginning of my South Africa story here: https://geogypsytraveler.com/2009/06/04/book-it/ And if you search for South Africa on my sight you’ll find all the stories so far. Have you down for #6878.
hmm… those studio portraits look familiar and so does the classroom photo … I put a lot of very similar ones in scrapbooks/photo albums for each of our kids when we sold out to go full-timing. Fun post! Thanks for the compliment on “my” photo — I guess it is true since most of the time I can’t believe my kids can be the same age as I am (or feel at least).
How about 1960 — the year for the next oldest kid.
What you did making albums for your kids is truly a gift. Many of the photos from my youth were lost in a flood in my parents basement, long before they became RVers. You are as young as you want. 😀 Have you down for #1960.
What lovely memories Gaelyn. Wish I had been with you to share your day. Hugs.
The canyon visit could only have been better if I could have shared it with you.
I love them old photos. You have had a life.
I remember those old school desks. At the end of the year there was always a lot of forgotten stuff in them.
My number for next week is 5591. (1955 backwards)
It is fun to look back at the old photos. Good reason to keep taking them for our future. Didn’t you have to clean out your desk the last day and find forgotten treasures. Have you down for #5591, you backwards guy. 😉
Nice twist this week. It’s cool that the photographer came to the classroom to take a class photo. I don’t think we ever had an actual class photo when I was in school, let alone one in the classroom.
Your portrait with Denver is this week’s topper for me. I love the hat. I really like how both you and Denver are so regally posed. The best part, though, is that it’s a photo of a photo from your mother’s wall. The photos people display of their kids and grandkids sometimes take on a life of their own, I think.
#2129 for me this week.
Thanks Shane, this was fun to look back on.
In this age of digital studio photography is more limited.
I’m really glad I took a photo of the photo of Denver and me because I no longer have the original. I had to sneak Denver into the mall where this was taken.
Have you down for #2129.
A very special post Gail Lyn. Heeheehee….
Is that you slap bang in the middle in the class photo?
Next week, I choose 1975. My birth year. Just to stick to this topic.
Thanks Jonker. You found me. Have you down for #1975, kid.