1969 - Some historic place...

The three kids plus Nobuko plus her friend Alice. Maybe in the gold country somewhere? Alice had been an exchange student in Japan and liked to practice her Japanese with Nobuko. Catch the colors I'm wearing, it was the 60s

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?

1968 - Nobuko jumping off the high dive

I resolve to get back on task and continue to post the Ginsburgh family pics.

Nobuko, our exchange student, getting up the nerve to jump off the high dive. I think this was a real big deal for her. My high school, Rio Americano in suburban Sacramento had an outdoor swimming pool though I don't remember it being used much.

1968 - Nobuko at Rio

I think this picture was taken near the entrance of Rio Americano High School. Maybe close to the end of the year for Nobuko? The bright valley light shows in this picture. A big difference between living in Sacramento and Seattle.

Dennis and I went to Rio Americano to visit a year or so ago.

She's holding her year book, the Tesoro. I lost most of my yearbooks years ago. I think I lent them to somebody for a few days 35 years ago and haven't seen them since. Oh well, on to better things.

1968 - Nobuko Farewell

I don't remember this event at all. My high school, new at the time, had a swimmng pool. Can't imagine how they found the dollars for these two pools and they weren't used that much. I don't remember them every being open to the public. But it looks like the banner is for Nobuko. She maybe said "Happy Bye" Msybe. Anyway, I think that's me on the left. Nobuko is not wearing a bathing suit. Likely shy.

1968 - Candlestick Park

Sandy and Nobuko at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. ALways a big treat for us to leave the heat of the Sacramento Valley and go freeze and watch the San Francisco Giants play. I remember the ble and purple outfit (matching hair ribbon, natch)

Always listened to Lon Simmons and Russ Hodges who broadcast those giant games. One year, it looked like they really might go to the world series and we looked into tickets. You had to buy them in blocks of 4 games. The idea would be you would buy them and split with somebody. I was SO impressed that my father would even attempt to buy those expensive tickets. But he put his order in. But they didn't go to the world series.

Once I heard a rebroadcast of some years before when the Giants had won. The broadcasters repeated over and over in a sing song fashion "The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant!" And sometimes I would murmur it. One time a lady stopped and said "They did?" Do they even use that term any more? Win the pennant? The pennant was the triangular flag you got to fly if you won the division.

1968 - Candy Striper

I wasn't exactly a Candy Striper but I did do some nursing aid volunteer work in a residential facility for developmentally delayed children. Retarded was the word in those days. They were pretty challenging. I remember I was often in the baby ward. Think of those babies, really they were infants who were in residential care.

In those days, you wore the special uniform. I must have been going to some volunteer affair as I'm decked out in the white gloves (I hated HATED white gloves). I did wear that uniform when I worked. It was some distance away but I know that my mother took me and picked me up. Can't exactly say I enjoyed it, the children were pretty involved and difficult. Don't remember how long I did it.

Nobuko and me on the front step of the Wilhaggin home.

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.

1968 - Nobuko and Pam

In front of our fireplace in the family room at the Wilhaggin home. I think. I vaguely remember it but I don't think it was ever used. A few years back, when I visited the Wilhaggin house, we didn't go inside, just stayed in the yard

1968 - Nobuko graduates

Nobuko got to participate in the graduation ceremony at Rio Americano High School in 1968. I think she was already 19 and she still had a year of school to complete in Japan on her return. I might have mentioned that she and her husband came to visit a few years ago and I really enjoyed it. I didn't appreciate her back in 1968!

1968 - Matching outfits

I'm back! Resuming by Ginsburgh Family Pictures blog

Nobuko and Sandy in matching outfits along with Charlie (14) and Pam (9) in front of the Wilhaggin home. Summertime given the sleeveless outfits and sandals. We thought we were very cute with out bright prints with the oversize distorted ties.

1968 - Another confirmation picture

Myself on the temple steps at Confirmation with Cantor Cohen. You can see my peers scattered around in their hairbows and their sashed dresses. Nobuko is in the picture, enjoying herself in the moment, taking part as she always did. Who is between us? I don't know!

1968 - Nobuko and her prom date

Nobuko and her prom date Jim O'Neill. Another AFS member made her dress for her. Check out the long gloves and the fancy hairdo. She looks so happy. Dang, I had a crush on that guy myself....oh well.

1968 - Sandy and Nobuko at confirmation

Sandy and Nobuko on one of the events around Sandy's confirmation. Which truly seems like non-Jewish event. But it is or was. I had my hair done, I remember not being happy with it but realized that I had failed to explain or understand what was going to happen. I liked that yellow drop waist dress, it had an interesting fabric. Nobuko, as usual, is with the program. Taken in the old sanctuary of Temple B'nai Israel in Sacramento. That room has been completely redone (see earlier in this blog)

1968 - Candy Striper

Picture of Nobuko and Sandy on front steps of the Willhagin home. I was a Candy Striper volunteer in high school. I used to volunteer as an aide at a home for retarded children. I used to care for some of the small children and sometimes the babies. I don't remember much about it except that it was hard work. I was determined to do it but I didn't particularly enjoy it or find it rewarding. Thikning back on those small children, even babies, I never remember seeing parents or family members. These kids were institutionalized. It was a rather new facility, pleasant, light and clean. But hard times and dark futures for those young people.

I'm all decked out with cap and gloves, I wonder if I'm going to some event?

1967 Nobuko and Japanese culture

Nobuko hosting a gathering in our back yard with some girls from Rio (not unlike the girls from Shorewood who came to Gowoon's part 40 years later). Nobuko is showing her things she brought from Japan including the kimono. I'm also wearing a kimono right behind Nobuko.

1967 Kimonos

Nobuko has arrived and she has brought, as gifts, kimonos for Sandy and Pam. We still have that kimono of mine around here somewhere. I regret that it has been tossed around a bit. In the backyard of the Wilhaggin home

1967 - Nobuko at Tahoe

Nobuko, our eschange student fromJapan has arrived and we are in Emerald Bay in Lake Tahoe