1964 - House under construction

Warning: as I look through these pictures I realize that the dating is not so accurate. For example, I have pictures of the Wilhaggin House in 1964 and the Arden Park House in 1965. We moved there in 1964 so I can tell that some of the slides are mis-marked. Not to worry, we'll go with it.

Here's a picture of the three kids. My guess is that this is the site of Zwisleer's home being built in Cameron Park. For some reason, in this picture I look like I have long legs. And I never NEVER had long legs.

1964 - Pam on her birthday

Here's Pam on her birthday. Had a bow (probably on a clippie) in her hair. Those bushes are still there. I remember then as strictly generic bushes.

1964 - Pam's fifth birthday???

Could be wrong on the age, but it's the summer and it looks like a birthday party. Pam on the left. I'm going to guess on the kids

Rhys Branmen
The two McFall kids
Eddie Wohlebb
little girl on the end? don't know

In front of the Arden Park home. It's getting close to the time when we move.

1964 - Sandy's turquoise swimsuit

I remember that suit, it was a pretty turquoise color, I liked it a lot. Not exactly sure where this picture was taken. I think there was a semi-private pool where we might have taken lessons but don't really remember. Big difference..in California all pools are outside. My high school had a pool and it was outside, I don't remember it used very much.

Not sure of the location or the event

1964 - Charlie has some fish

Aptos, Father and Charlie maybe went on a fishing trip or maybe just out on the pier. Apparently they caught these fish. Poor fellows but I think Charlie was proud!

1964 - HORSE Cunnnntree

I'm on some outing and looks like we are on a real ranch with a real-life cowboy added in. Likely a girl scout outing, I never had much to do with horses though such experiences were quite coveted. I was just probably way proud of myself for getting up on that fence and being able to sit on it. That kind of stuff was hard for me. And what a pretty place, clearly the California spring, maybe in the foothills?

What is that cowboy doing, I see an ear in the upper right.

To myself, I look like I'm just taking in the whole scene and pondering it. But who knows?

The title is a nod to my sister as a toddler. When we were on a ride and we entered a rural farming error she would sing out "This is HORSE CUNNNNNTREE!!"

1964 - Mystery harbor

We're on a boat again but where are we? Pam looks unhappy. The storage tanks on the left make me think we are near Richmond. That looks like some tall ship in the background. And what's the arch? I probably hated this picture and that blouse because that bra is showing....aack, I was probably mortified

1964 - Somewhere in the Mother Lode

Maybe Jackson or similar? A gold rush town in the foothills with some tourist aspirations in the mid 60s? My mother must have had her neck problems around this time because of the neck brace

1964 - My father on vacation

My father on that same kidless vacation. Maybe a hotel in Las Vegas. A few times, they went away leaving us in the care of one of the 'agency' babysitters. The one I remember was an older lady named Mrs. Bressie. It was ok, I didn't mind the agency babysitters. My father is 38 in this picture, he's lost much of beanpole physique and filled out a bit though he was never overweight. I think he had that bathing suit for decades.

Las Vegas wasn't developed so much in 1964. Can't identify the hotel. But they are having a good time.

1964 - San Francisco Bay

Charlie and Sandy got to go on a cruise on San Francisco Bay with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background. I didn't remember that small span under the roadway near the Presidio. But, a nice day on the Bay and we have the front view! Is that possible Don Gittelson on the right? Not sure.

1964 - Mom ON VACATION!

Where was mom? Undoubtedly without the kids, those look like hotel towels on the lounges. She's having a good time. And looking good!

1964 - Another Sandy go to camp picture

Pam is right, I look too clean for it to be on the way home. The pink 1962 Plymouth No Touch Car in the background. I think I'm clutching the Brownie style camera that took dreadful black and white pictures.

1964 - Pam and Father on the beach

Pam and Father on the same beach outing. This is the pier a bit north of Rio Del Mar beach. The cement boat at the end of pier is clearly visible. The US Palo Alto, one of the few cement boats, tanker for us in WW I. But I don't know why it ended up here. I think it was closed up by the time we got there. Pam was concerned that we would hang out by the supporting poles but I don't know what would be bad about that. It wasn't our regular beach and I'm not sure of the attraction. But Aptos is a beautiful area and I can understand why our parents came there. Pam has the patch on in this picture.

1964 -Rio Del Mar again

The view from the corner house onto the parking lot at Rio Del Mar at Aptos on Monterey Bay. I might have posted a similar earlier picture. Plenty of period California mid-60s stuff here. The cars, of course, also the white pants and largish hair of the woman walking away from the beach. The palm trees and the beach were looking good. Not sure what it looks like now but likely not as accessible.

However, San Clemente just 10 years ago was local and pretty cheap, we stayed there!

1964 - At Aptos Beach

I'm not sure if these slides are all marked correctly. Pam looks younger here than in the '1963' pictures. No matter. Here's another shot at Aptos. My parents loved the beach, we got to spend a week here most summers. My sister is wearing her glasses and eye patch. Can you imagine working with a toddler with eye patch at a sandy beach? My parents were determined to try this approach to get my sister's 'lazy eye' to work. This did not work but they sure put a lot of effort into it and my sister spent much of her early years in a hazy blur. I think that is the aptos pier in the background, it does look like MOnterey Bay but I'm not 100% certain.

On to 1964 - Sandy to camp again

I'm going to camp again. Am I happy because I'm going or because I'm coming home. I don't remember liking it very much at all. Just the whole idea did not appeal to me, I would rather be reading a book. The straw hat is look a little worse for wear...that's why I think I might be coming home

1963 - Sandy in Lexington

I know that we saw lots of historical sites when we were in Massachusetts...if only to get out of my grandparent's house. A picture of Sandy, age 11, in front of a marker in Lexington. How do I know, I read the inscription!

1963 - More trip preparations

Here we are again getting ready to leave on that trip. This is taken in the driveway of the Arden Park home which I just visited in September. The Taylor's house in the background is now being extensively remodeled, they have that whole house down to the studs. Notice the open horizon, hardly any big trees and the period car in the background.

We are all dressed up with our bags to take on the plane. I gotta say, my mom did a good job getting us all dressed up when she felt the occassion demanded it. I don't remember the aqua jacket. I might remember the rainbow striped purse. I was thinking that might be a Barbie case I'm carrying but it looks a little narrow for that.

All the ironing that's involved with that lifestyle....

1963 - Going on an airplane!

We are going on an airplane trip and it's a big deal. Here we are at the old Sacramento Airport. We are all dressed up, my little sister and I have on dresses with our white socks and Mary janes. My brother in his jacket and tie, my mother in her smart suit. You dressed to go on an airplane then, especially to fly all the way across the country. The airport is looking pretty smart itself, everything looking shiny and well-kept, nice garden and that pervasive California light. Within 5 years, the new airport will be built way north of the city and this airport will be mostly for small aircraft.

But in 1963, it was the way out of town. I think we flew from Sacramento to San Francisco and from San Francisco to Boston or Hartford most likely. I don't remember.

1963 - In my grandparent's back yard

I can't imagine my grandparents were very comfortable with this whole situation but we are visiting. I think they might have invited some children in the neighborhood to come over. Probably Pam in that great running shot. Maybe Charlie coming out the back door. My mother is sitting in the chair with my grandmother behind her. My grandfather is looking aghast at the whole situation. He loved us, really he did. As long as we were quiet. I had a very special relationship with my grandfather. I was the first grandchild and his favorite for the rest of his life. I was perfect; he loved me unconditionally in his stern uncompromising way.

1963 - Harvard Yard

My father must have taken this picture, I think that I was not there. Some kind of alumni gathering at Harvard, NOT a place for children according to my father. Indeed there are no children and no women in this picture. Some kind of Harvard gathering, commencement? something? I suspect that my grandfather (class of 1920) and my father (masters in aeronautical engingeering, 1949?) attended. What a sea of formally dressed white men....it would have been in the summer, anybody know if there is a formal event in the summer? Check out the top hats. Men in positions of power, here they are.

1963 - Grandpa in Harvard Yard

At least, I assume it's Harvard Yard. That's a place he would likely take his grandchildren. IF we were well-behaved. A large part of his life was being part of the 1920, that's the Harvard Class of 1920. He came from humble means, he started college at the University of Rochester and then won a scholarship from the Harvard Club of Rochester. Not too many Jewish young men at Harvard at that time. Actually I've read that it was the increased number of Jewish young men at Harvard who did so well in the state Regent's exam that drove the development of the SAT, a test for which you could not prepare.

Being a Harvard grad meant quite a lot to my grandfather Harold Ginsburgh, his entire life. Notice the straw hat.

1963 - At the beach

A shot of the group at the beach. From left to right, Marilyn R, Mary Ann, Pam, Ruth, who's the little boy?, David R. Oh, and Charlie off to the right with the bucket.

Sometime during the visit, David took us on this hilarious walk. We played follow the leader and he did all kinds of madcap wacky things and we did everything he did, make funny noises, go in and out of yards and the water and make funny faces do things with sand and be very very silly. I thought it was the funniest thing I had EVER done in my entire life. I was just entranced that a grownup could be so very crazy and amusing. I never have laughed so hard. Afterwards, my mother asked my brother what he thought, he said he was embarrassed to be following a man in his pajamas. This is 1963 and David had a shirt that matched his bathing suit. Very appropriate beach attire but nine year old Charlie didn't get it.