1940 Claire

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

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.

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.

1968 - Before my confirmation?

Myself, Nobuko, my mother and brother posing in the back of the Wilhaggin house maybe before my confirmation? I had flowers associated with it? I remember the dress, I liked it, though I didn't wear it very many times. There was a little dress store behind the ice cream store right across from Arden Town. I remember always being able to find a dress there.

That yard is very beuatiful now, the people there have lived there many years and the lady is a marvelous gardener. My family only lived there 1964-70.

1950 - Parent's wedding picture; bride's family

Found some old pictures in a trunk today. This is the picture of the family of the bride at mom and dad's wedding, April 16, 1950 in a local restaurant in New Haven CN.

Poppy, Nanny, Uncle Bunny, Aunt Ruth, mom and dad

1967 - Party for the Zwisslers

We're back to the underexposed pictures of the going away party for the Zwisslers. You can see my mother with her silvery black outfit, Gayle in the background. Don't know who the other guests are. Much more acceptable to smoke then

1967 Party for the Zwisslers

During this time, the Zwisslers moved to Southern California and my parents threw a big going away part for them. Catered and everything. I remember my mom and I went shopping for the fancy dress that she would wear. At I. Magnins (the swankiest that we knew about) we found this brightly colored top and printed skirt. Kind of gypsy print with a bright orange top. My mom looked fabulous in it and I LOVED it. We were so excited about it and the my father vetoed the whole outfit. Too bright and gaudy. My mom was so mad and so was I. So she returned it and bought a conservative black skirt and this silvered fancy top. Then, at the last moment, Lew Zwissler couldn't be at the party! And it was in his honor! So they displayed him in effigy, I think it was my younger sister's Raggedy Ann doll. This is the biggest party I can remember they ever gave.

Pictured are my mom and Gayle Zwissler. Look how young and slim they are!

1966 - More walks on the beach

One of the nicest Aptos beach pictures. Everybody's having a good time. It's cool and on the beach

1966 - Outside the casino

Very odd picture until you can visualize the real life context. We're at Lake Tahoe. We can't go inside because we are under 18. But mom goes inside and she's got a slot machine my the window and is signalling out side to us. She has our nickels and she's losing them for us. Wonder about those entertainers there on the marque.

Still an odd picture

1966 - Visit to Bea and Dave G

We went to visit Bea and Dave Gittleson in Los Angles. They are the parent of Don Gittleson, friends of my parents. I know they haven't seen them in many years. At the behest of my mom, I called Mim Gittleson, they live in Palm Springs, when I visited there two years ago. My mom thought we should visit. But they are 80 years old also and I couldn't connect and they were not interested. The elder Gittlesons lived in a stucco bungalow on an old-fashioned Los Angeles street (if there is such a thing). Kind of dark and arched with a small yard with tropical plants. I think they were near the Fairfax district. There we are, I think I remember the outfit. It looks like it's warm and we sit out in the yard instead of an air-conditioned interior

1966 - Mom and Pam in front yard

With a cigarette...but this is 1966; I think she quit soon after this. I remember her quitting early in my high school years. I'm thinking it's fall. It's chilly, not the jackets. The leaves are off the mulberries but they haven't been pruned (Father usually did that New Year's Day). Calendulas blooming in the flower bed.

1965 - Snoozing on the beach

Mom snoozing on the beach in her two piece bathing suit. It looks like she has got her transistor radio, maybe listening to the Giants game? A library book, looks pretty old but this was over 40 years ago. The Zwisslers are down. For the week? For the day? Gayle playing something with Karen with Pam looking on.

I remember the woven straw mats. They worked pretty well. They could still be in my mom's basement....

1965 - In the surf

I think that's mom in the surf, not entirely sure but the haircut looks right and I vaguely remember her having a swimsuit like that. Maybe Karen Z on the left? Looks wild and a lot of fun!

1965 - Thin mom at the beach

Wow, mom sure looks slim in this picture. We are again at the beach in Aptos. Mom loved to go on walks at the beach...and we like it too!

1965 - Sandy on a boat

This could be 1965. Mom and Sandy and we're on a boat. Maybe on the delta? Don't remember whose boat. The Hodge's?

Susanna just came down here.
"I'm writing about this picture"
She says quickly "Oh, that's Ilana in Rockford"
"No", I say, that's ME

That family resemblance thang

Anyway, I have bangs.

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 - 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 - 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.

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.