This little card is my birth announcement and believe me, this is "vintage". I trust that when all of you see the date of birth on the inside of this card, that you will NOT pass the information around. (Nothing like the Internet for privacy and safe keeping of information. Right?) Click on the picture for a close-up. My sister found both of our announcements in a plastic bag of Moms filled with old letters and obituaries.
Mom wrote a letter to my grandma on the inside of it. It said that she was glad her Mother had come down to be with her for my birth. She was 25 yrs old and she had a frightening miscarriage the year before, so having her Mom with her must have been a huge comfort. She wrote..," I was so glad that you were down here with me at the one time in my life when I needed you most; you and your prayers; you and Lyle, the two people closest to my heart. Thanks Mama." and, " How we love her and how we thank God for her." I always felt that love.
I remember this little picture all my life. It was in the downstairs bedroom on the Ranch in
Napa. The room was green and had lovely full length pale green lace curtains. This was were my Mom lived after her daddy died and where my Grandma was born. My aunt lived there all her live and I spent many summers there. When I was old enough to sleep by myself I slept in the green room and before my aunt tucked me in she would tell me that this little girl in the picture was me and that I could sing to the robin before I went to sleep and the robin would protect me all night long. It worked. I was never afraid sleeping in the big bed in that room. I would just look at the picture and fall asleep. Now the little picture hangs in my guest room and when my grand babies come to visit, and stay over night, I will tell them the robin story too. It's a magic old picture and will be passed on to another generation someday.
This is me. I'm probably about a year old. This photo was cropped from a larger one with my aunt in it. It was taken in Harbor Gate, in Richmond, Ca. It was a housing facility for Navel personnel after World War II. Mom said I was a brunette on my baby announcement but I got blond really fast. I knew that blonds would have more fun, even then. The war was almost over and I was ready to rumble.
Vintage Thingies Thursdays is hosted by
Colorado Lady and you can check out other "vintage" loving blogs on her site.
How wonderful to have that card. The robin story was sweet, robins are such nice birds.
ReplyDeleteFor some reason, I had never connected the name Connie with Constance. I love that name. My very first playmate's name was Constance (Konstanze) :-)
ReplyDeletewhat a lovely post and all those sweet memories.. thanks for sharing them.. I really like the birth announcement card.. and the lil girl picture.. sweet!.. happy VTT
ReplyDeleteI love treasures like this!
ReplyDeleteGood Morning, Thanks for coming by, I understand living on a lonely road(but ours isn't lonely any more) and enjoying the sights and sounds of the morning. I love your Goat Boys.
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet story about the picture and the robin.
Happy VTT,
Barbara
What a lovely post. It is so much fun remembering our past. You have some great memories. Have a great day Connie. Madeline
ReplyDeleteP.S. I have posted a couple of pictures of Vulcan as you requested on my blog.
Your childhood sounds like something in a storybook.
ReplyDeleteI think it is so neat that you have your birth announcement! I don't know if any were sent out for me, but I will have to ask my Mom and get a copy if they were!
ReplyDeleteLoved seeing and hearing about your past life. I always enjoy reading how others made it in this world.
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet story of the little girl and the robin. Sounds like it could be a children's book! Love that and your memories! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing such a sweet post Connie. The photo of you is adorable - those curls! I love the story about the robin too.
ReplyDeleteWhat great memories to have kept. I love the birth announcement, I will have to see if I have one of mine, loved this post. Have a great VTT.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful story! It's nice to see everyone's treasures but it's so much better to hear the story behind it.
ReplyDeleteOh these are such priceless treasures. That little stork report is so cute!
ReplyDeleteLove your sweet treasures and the robin story is lovely. What little one wouldn't feel safe with such love. Happy VTT,,have a gorgeous weekend.
ReplyDeleteLovely treasures, Connie, I'm happy to see that my Mum wasn't the only one to save these treasures.Such childhood memories you have & provenance for the places you were back then. And now you have a sweet legacy to pass along to your own grands.
ReplyDeleteThe little Bean looks as if he actually enjoyed the dirt!
Grand story,photos and precious family memories. Thanks for sharing! Happy VTT
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post, such beautiful heartfelt words. The stork is just precious, as is all of your memorabilia. Thank you so much for sharing the story.
ReplyDeleteYou were one gorgeous little gal!!!
ReplyDeleteYour vintage thingies today really take me back - - - I remember those same style of cards and pictures.
Enjoyed your post! You were born the same year as my husband! It jumped out at me that you used to come to Napa. That is my home town. I grew up there and my kids grew up there. My parents are still there and we still go to church there. I recognize a lot of the things you describe. And in Oakland. My mother grew up on Oakland. And the Grand Lake Theater you mentioned in a previous post, I saw Sound of Music there for my birthday when I was 10. I have also been to Fairyland when I was a child. We also took our son when he was young, but I don't remember if we ever went when my daughter was young. It was fun catching up and meeting you through your posts.
ReplyDeleteI was saddened to read about the loss of your mother and your beloved pet. I hope you are doing better.