things can only get less awkward. It did prompt me to dig up some of my favorite old photos, and while I have a few choice pictures from that adolescent/post adolescent period, I thought I would post some plain old favorites to begin-
This is my Mom, photographed by my Dad who must have started working for Eastman Kodak in NY by this time. She looks about 20- maybe they were just dating at this point? The car is a 1938 Buick Special 4-door sedan, according to my brief research. I thought it was his only brand new car but he would have been too young... it could be the neighbors even. The joke was always whether he was more interested in the car or the girl in the picture.They did get married of course- and this is what their sons got up to eventually:
I don't know who tied him up, but that is my brother Jim in the glasses tied to the pole in our basement in NJ. This was before my time- that is Bill and Dor (you can just see her striped coveralls behind the pole) crawling around in the background. It seems like Tom would have been in on this, though I imagine it was my Dad that actually took the picture. I have had this framed on my desk for 15 years. I love the composition, the sand filled weights, the dehumidifier, the painted poles, and the other kids in the background painfully oblivious to Jim's plight as he struggles/tries to avoid the photographer's aim. This may seem excessively cruel to the non-Maier but trust me we all had moments like this; they just weren't all captured on film. The two brothers in that picture were eventually responsible for locking yours truly out in the February cold in his underwear. I truly forget why.
Again in NJ, in front of our hexagonal mailbox (and one of Larry's many Saabs) on Arnold Court; this is me in my brother Larry's Navy flight gear. A lot of Darth Vader sound effects in that face mask. I always had the very coolest visions of piloting my own Tie-fighter (or occasionally an X-wing) in this gear.
Finally, still probably my favorite car- the 1971 Ford Pinto- in Kermit green.
Notice the red gas cap from a junkyard- I lost that thing all the time. I'm pretty sure Scott Phillips took this while we were driving in Roswell. Sometimes I remember people's cars from high school more than important personal details. John Sabol had a blue CJ-7 and than inherited his Dad's sweet Datsun 280Z (also blue). Casey Schaeffer had a light green 80s Honda Accord, Tom Schultz occasionally drove an orange Karmann Ghia. Camille had a brand new red Pontiac. Charlie had his Mom's Toyota 'minivan', I'm pretty sure Scott and Virginia both drove Oldsmobile Cutlasses and my neighbor Jeff Myers ('Jabo') drove a brown Mazda RX-7. Anne, did you drive a blue Accord station wagon?
7 comments:
Mike, GREAT photos. I have always loved that one of Mom as well. And the one of Jim tied up, I think that may be you in the background though, Bill looks about 9 or 10, so I would have been 6 or 7 by then. Maybe Bill or Jim could correctly date it.
And the exploding Pinto...my (least) favorite memories are of driving it back and forth from Roswell to M'ville, AM radio only, no A/C. I was glad to pass it on to you and get Dad's '78 Cutlass Salon, with the falling down headliner. Good times.
Wow - I can't believe all those pictures you were able to blog. No, your Dad was definitely more interested in the gal, although he did spend much time on the Buick. It was a used car and not too many had one in 1950, a big attraction to young women. I did not realize you had that one of Jim - a real family heirloom. Thank you....
Mike - Must have been Larry or I that tied up Jim, although those shoddy knots point to me more than him. Is Jim wearing an Atlanta Falcons sweatshirt? And chukka boots?
The (4 or 5 speed?)Pinto was also one of my favorites, I remember zipping around in Clare's brown one before her incident on slippery Boonton road. It had great pickup that came in handy when trying to exit up the incline from Slaters Mill parking lot.
Holy crap, those are awesome!
I did NOT drive a blue station wagon. I drove a weird succession of crappy used cars, and one sweet sweet '66 Mustang convertible, which was really kind of a fluke. Dad bought it, but didn't want to drive it for the commute, just on weekends, so i was allowed to drive it to school. I loved the car, but kind of hated it because a) I was scared that I would wreck it and pretty sure dad cared more about its condition than mine and b) people really thought i was just some spoiled kid whose daddy bought her a vintage car. SO not true. And that, folks, is why i did not like it.
I also drove a 70s brown accord hatchback (and my friend Evan had an equally crappy brown one - twins!). I drove a black honda accord, a blue honda accord, and both were great, but they weren't mine - they were family cars. I think that's it.
Looking forward to more nostalgia posts - love them!
I love that picture of the pinto. When Anne said that you should dig up photos from HS, that is the one I thought of.
I had no idea you were such a car nerd. I do remember Tom's Ghia, but only because he talked it about it so much. The rest of those cars, I couldn't have ventured a guess...except the green Pinto...but, of course-who could forget that? Oh, and great photo of your mom!
mike- amazing life you've had since we last had contact. congrats on your family. let's catch up..
scott
Post a Comment