1969 - Israeli flag costume?

Pam has an Israeli flag costume, maybe made out of a pillowcase? Why? For what? I'm helping her do something. I think I made that plaid jumper. That was a big deal then, making your own clothes. Actually I was terrible at it, lack of fine motor coordination. Maybe that phase by the time my sister got there. But it was highly encouraged from inside the home and outside. The deal was, you could make your own clothes at a fraction of the cost. Everybody should do it. I hated it.

That yard is much more beautiful now. Second shot shows the yard approx 3 years ago from about the same spot.

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

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

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 - Marin Civic Center

In the parking lot of the Marin Civic Center designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Was and still is, a very impressive building set in that beautiful Marin County. I remember the heavy gold colored sweater. It sent with green wool skirt with small gold plaid in it. I made that skirt, it might have been lined. With the matching green hair ribbon, natch. That's got to be June B. Was apparently into long bangs at the time. I sure look thin in that picture.

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 - At confirmation reception

Our honored guest was Mrs. Kubo, my Ebglish teacher. She's on the left in the white hat. In the foregroun in profile was just about my favorite person at the time Robert who was going as "Igor" at that time. He's had a successful career as a concert pianist. I've long lost touch with him. His talent was dazzling at the time. Mitch C sitting to the right of me. Check out the bright red upsweep in the foreground. Whew, what were people thinking nearly 40 years ago????

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 - 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 - 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 - Sandy and Pam - confirmation?

Pam and Sandy posing in the back. I'm ALL DRESSED UP, I think it's confirmation or something. I think that was an old dress of somebody's, maybe my mothers? Anyway I liked it but the skirt was shortened to 1968 standards. I think my hair was 'done' and I'm wearing a special clip with ribbons on it. I'm wearing a charm bracelet and I'm guessing my father's ASG ring which I liked very much. Probably a mogen david around my neck. Pam looks impressed being next to her big sister.

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 Sandy and Mary Ann

I think we are at the Japanese Garden in San Francisco. I remember the blue pea coat though I think I lost it in some unfortunate way (again, the rage in 1967) We are wearing skits, hosiery and funny shoes. People would not dress like that now but, then, according to my mother...if you went to The City (San Francisco), you dressed up. Period. Maybe even with white gloves.

1967 - The Gittlesons are visiting

I don't remember this visit; why they visited Sacramento but that's the front of the Wilhaggin home.

Front Row: David G, Alan G. Carla G, PM
Back Row: Don, Mim, Charlie, Father, Sandy

All looking healthy and fit, so glad. My father passed away at the age of 80 last April. I've lost track of the Gittlesons. My mother thought they were living in Palm Springs. Two years ago, Dennis and I went there for a tournament and my mom strongly encouraged me to contact them, perhaps they would like to go to a game, they are always fun. I worked hard to find the number. Called and left a message. Called again and got Mim, she said she knew who I was but was distracted and could not talk right then. That was it; I figured they were 80 years old also and had other things on their mind. I did not try any more.

I have my hair going good again, how DID I do that? That kind of ribbed sweater top was called a poor boy sweater. All over the department stores in 1967.

My father always that hair cream sort of curl on the top of his hair, I thought it was permanently there, but clearly not.

My mother must have taken the picture.

1967 - Sandy with good hair

How did I ever get my hair to do that? I'm sure this side part page boy slightly poufy was my goal. But I hardly have any hair which is a real disability. However, here's the proof. I got it to look like that at least once

1967 I made that dress

When I was in middle and high school, sewing your own clothes was considered very desirable for girls. Everybody should learn to sew because, if you could sew, you could make just about anything you want for a fraction of the cost. Very sensible, virtuous and accomplished if you could sew.

My mother could knit but not sew very well but she was keen that I should learn to sew. Unfortunately I have very poor fine motor coordination and spatial skills. And I wasn't ALL that interested in clothes. My mother really encouraged me, incentives. But I didn't like all the detail work, I was not very good at visualizing the product, it never came out right and I was generally lousy at it.

What I wanted in the 9th grade was colored shoes. Everybody wore colored shoes with nylons (what WERE we thinking?). In those days, girls had to wear dresses (ditto). My mother said that if I made a dress, she would buy me colored shoes to go with it. Not the desired capezios, of course, but colored shoes.

So here's the dress, an A-line dress of a green floral print. And, if you look real close, you can see that I am wearing the promised yellow shoes to go with it. Like everything I made, it didn't fit right and I soon abandoned the whole idea.

Never to be taken up again, I still don't do hand or craft work.

Pam in front of me, I think she's wearing a costume for a dance or gymnastics recital. I don't know what the orange thing is.

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