1940 Claire

Claire Baumann, 16, New Haven Connecticut. In her confirmation dress

1969 - Sandy and fringe

Hard to believe but this is me. I think I made that dress (maybe it was culottes). White seersucker and check out the fringe around the hem and neckline. With the matching dark green hair ribbon. Was I cool or WHAT? Also the woven native stiled bag. I had aspirations, to be sure

1969 - Pam & Scotchy

Pam and Scotchy in front of the Wilhaggin house

1969 - Party

We're having a party in the backyard of the Wilhaggin house. I don't know why! I don't recognize anybody in the picture save myself. I'm on the right in the culotte outfit of hot orange and pink. Sounds worse than it was, I remember really liking it, I'm 17 in this picture. Maybe my mom on the left taking pictures?

1963 - Claire and Allen all dresssed up

My parents all dressed up in 1963. They're in their late 30s. They had a much more active social life that we do. Almost every weekend we had a babysitter in the evenings. They went to dinner dances, cocktail parties, bridge parties. I don't remember them entertaining that much but I'm sure they did their share. I think I remember that dress, I think it was white lace over a light blue under layer. My mom always had her 'hair done' every week at the beauty shop. Hard to imagine what that was all about.

She's likely wearing the nouveau diamond and pearl 'lavolier' that I have now. My grandmother received it as an engagement gift. I wore it on my wedding but doubt I would ever have the occasion to wear it again.

This picture was taken in our Arden Park house, they are standing in the living room. Who's poking their head over the coffee table? I'm thinking that's my sister who would have been 4 but doesn't really look like her. The twisted candle on the coffee table suggests that this could be around the holidays so maybe my parents were going to some Aerojet Christmas party. The rarely used double doors on the left with their "oriental" screens with butterflies; don't remember where they came from. The lace fan bahind them belonged to my great grandmother Delia. My mother had it framed and has always been so proud of it. It hangs in her living room to this day.

Who took the picture? Maybe it was me though it's doubtful that my father would have let me handle the camera. But maybe it was me, because I clearly remember this event.

1968 - Nobuko's surprise

In 1968, we lived in Sacramento. At the end of Nobuko's exchange student year, they got the students all together and they made a trip across country. They would make a stop at San Francisco airport and then fly to Tokyo. My mom got this idea that we should go to the San Francisco airport and surprise Nobuko.

At that time, going from Sacramento to San Francisco was a rather big deal, about a 3 hour drive. Of course, it still IS a 3 hour drive but somehow this was more of an adventure. So here is Nobuko surprised, she always loved the drama. My mom is on the left and her friend Alice, who had been an exchange student in Japan on the right. Maybe my younger sister in the foreground?

1989 - Disneyland

In 1989, in honor of their 40the anniversary (a year early) my parents arranged a family get together in Southern California. She always wanted to live in one of those beachfront townhouses on Newport Beach and she managed to lease a big one for the week.

Part of the festivities was a trip to Disneyland. This famous picture demonstrates 5 year old Susanna's enthusiasm for the whole idea. We're walking down Main Street. I'm not too concerned with Danny and Ilana (foreground holding Dennis and my hands); they'll stay close.

But Susanna, she's (as usual) ready to launch herself right into orbit. She's holding my brother's hand. His whole duty revolved around keeping track of her, a full time job.

Naomi was 3 months old at the time. She's back at the house, my parent's are taking care of her. But, that stubborn kid, she refused to take a bottle, despite my many efforts. So, the plan (which drove my father NUTS), the plan was for them to drive from Newport Beach to Anaheim at noon and meet me outside the gate so I could nurse her. My father was beside himself, not only was he going to have to deal with this breastfeeding nursing stuff but, he was going to have to PAY (and he NEVER liked to pay money), he was going to have to PAY for parking and then he wasn't even going to get to PARK. HaRRUMPH! Pay for parking and not even park, just for this little baby who wouldn't take a bottle. Why didn't she beHAVE like she should?

My mother told him to get over it. So they brought the baby to me per the plan.

1969 - Sue and Mom

My mom and Sue Beittel, probably at Aptos. The scarf maybe hid some big hair that my mom had. Sue really looks like Lynn in this picture, the hair is a lot the same.

1961 Nanny and Poppy

My maternal grandparents circa 1961. We referred to them as Nanny and Poppy. My parents brought them from 'back east' to visit once or twice/year. The first thing Nanny would do would be to put a popnoodle (quick cake full of raisin, nuts and cinnamon) into the oven. I have the recipe but I can never get it to come out right.

I don't have many pictures of my grandfather Poppy. You can see he still has his red hair in this photo. None of his children, grandchildren or great grandchildren inherited his red hair and green eyes though we all have strong red highlights in our hair.

They both came from wealthy german jewish New Haven families and their match was considered quite the deal at the time. My grandfather's family owned a company, the Baumann Rubber Company, which at one time, had 160 employees. But it failed during the depression and they never regained their financial footings.

My grandfather smoked cigars and every year, my grandmother would fill one of the cigar boxes with little gifts or political or business giveaways all individually wrapped up. The highlight was always a penny that was wrapped and wrapped in many kinds of wrapping paper. I remember really enjoyed opening up the cigar boxes from my grandparents every year.

Notice our cat Misty on the right.

1962 - Thanksgiving in Sacramento

I may have included this occassion somewhere before. The date is approximate as these few slides were in a box marked 1968.

We always had Thanksgiving with the Beittel family. We alternated between our house in Sacramento and their house in Marin County. This year we were in Sacramento sitting on our back patio. Sandy's the big kid, feeling very superior over all of these LITTLE kids. I notice that June has been found, she was usually was the one who went missing at some point.

Sitting left to right

Lynn B
Mark B
Pam G
Charlie G
June B