Age two

Here I am at age two. This photo was taken on March 8, 1950.

Intransigent

This picture was taken in November 1951. Written on the back is "Danny decided he didn't want his picture took and when I said "Look this way" he said "No" and turned around. Smart ???"

Three cousins and grandfather

Here I am once again with my tongue hanging out. Also in the picture are my two cousins, Don (on left) and Bobby (on right). That is my grandfather in the center.

PaPa, Mother, and me

Noticed the wild shirt I have on behind the overalls.

4th of July

The day began with the service at Church of the Restoration. I arrived at the church about 10:30; Gail arrived about 10:35. We were the first people there. We sat on a bench outside the church and talked waiting on someone with a key to show up. We became concerned as the time got to be 10:55 and no one else was there. I had my cell phone with me and decided to call a church member, Joy Avery, to see if the service had been canceled. I phoned Joy but she did not answer. We decided to wait until 11:00 am and then leave if no one else was there by that time.

At about two minutes before 11 am the church pianist drives up. She had with her two 10-year old boys from Dallas, her grandsons, who were visiting her. After another couple more minutes Rosemary arrived. A few more people trickled in during the next few minutes. Janet, now celebrating her 80th birthday, as she has been for the last two months, was there, and next to her was a Muslim woman. Two of my friends from HAT also were there. In all we had eight people there for the service. Gail and I played "Stars and Stripes Forever," an appropriate piece for the Fourth of July. The next all Humanist service will be on August 1.

In the afternoon, we went over to the home of the Dobbs (Nick's in laws), who live just outside the city limits of Sand Springs. Fireworks are prohibited within city limits (unless you have a permit), but outside the city it's OK to shoot fireworks. Someone brought three buckets of chicken from KFC, J brought three kinds of ice cream and brownies and cookies. Someone else brought cucumber salad and potato salad. We all ate a big meal. I managed to watch the evening news while there. The oil spill in the Gulf may have further long range consequences that are not anticipated at this time.

We went out to the large driveway awning to keep out of the light drizzle and watch the fireworks. Nick and his family were there plus Adra's sister and her husband.

Concert then movie

Today J mentioned something about her drivers' license being due for renewal in July, which caused me to remember that mine was due for renewal in June. I went down to the tag agency and got it renewed for $12.50. Then I got back home in time to get ready for our concert at the Wildwood Care Center - a nursing home for the elderly. This is where Gail's mother-in-law went, and still is. We had an audience of about eight people. We had prepared ten pieces and played all ten. It took about 40 minutes.

The next event was Movie Night at the Bradleys. A member of HAT had high praise for the movie The Boys of Baraka. Randy obtained the movie from NetFlix. The six of us there watched it. J stayed home with Ayla. The movie is a documentary about a group of boys from the projects in Baltimore. If you are born in this enviroment, you are born at a disadvantage. Drug dealers and crime is everywhere. The movie tells the story about a select group of boys (12-14 years old) who were taken out of this environment and sent to Africa (Kenya) to a camp called Baraka. Life in the camp had a positive influence on the boys. It is a two-year program, but due to current conditions in the world, funding was cut after the first year. The boys had to return to the USA.

Tomorrow at church Gail and I will play "Stars and Stripes Forever" as the special music.

In the swing

This is my mother, myself, and my grandmother. This picture was taken when my mother was pregnant with Paula. On the back is written: "I don't want her you can have her, she's to[o] fat for me. Remember?"

Unknown relatives

I came across this photo from the box of pictures I have been going through. I think this photo comes from my father's side of the family. Here we have a group of seven people: three women and four men. Ages range from, I would estimate, 15 (boy on back left) to 70 (the two older women). This appears to be a professionally taken photo. Hands appear to be carefully, if awkwardly, placed. There is no hint from the back of the photo. I can't tell when this photo was taken. I would guess it was sometime between 1890 and 1925.

Holding a ball (1949)

Here I am wearing a crocheted jacket.

Newspaper clipping

Here I am (lower left) searching the stacks in a bookmobile.

On the porch at Nettleton

This photo was taken on February 17, 1949.

Carbon Hill photo

I posted a picture similar to this one a few days ago.

Fireworks images, 7.1.10

Here are some scenes from last night's fireworks display at Word of Life Church.

Lunch at Rib Crib

The day began with Gail coming over for a final practice before our concert tomorrow at Wildwood Care Center. We went through the ten pieces we will play, plus we went through a new arrangement of "Silent Night." We both like the new arrangement. It is maybe the third or fourth arrangement of the traditional Christmas Carol that we have played.

Today we had lunch at Rib Crib. They have a two-for-one special going on right now through the Fifth of July. You will need a coupon, which you can print from the link below. We both got a plate of baby back ribs. You will have to hurry. This offer expires next Monday.

http://campaign.constantcontact.com/render?v=001oBPX2EUZHJM7jl1iUOUHtNGgC4vCWKXSeX16vHHs14uXaxIoab8wBTtgdxMJhal6ISX4EAsxTg_ZCABCY-oW5o4DNPiPmT8zQ7qHhjymwaQn0YAaQL9r8c_3s5PJ8HmJPNj_g_JaO5o%3D

On the way back from lunch we went by the library. J got a book there. I browsed the "card catalog" and requested more books.

We noticed that business appears to be good at the new "Speedy Gonzalez" restaurant. There were several cars parked outside. Speedy Gonzales is now in the building formerly occupied by Burger King. The building has been vacant for years.

Playing football with Daddy

This photo was taken in May 1952.

Look what I caught

I don't remember this picture at all, but as you can see, I am holding up a stringer of fish on a creek bank somewhere.

Fireworks show

Tonight we went to a fireworks show in Sand Springs. It was held at a church, Word of Life. Word of Life is a charmastic, non-denominational church. Frankly, I was not expecting a lot. But the show turned out to be quite good.

I took several pictures, and I might post some tomorrow. We took lawn chairs and got a front row seat. Some of the fireworks even exploded directly over our heads. It was as good a show as the city puts on. (Actually, there was a mishap with last year's city show, and it was cut short.) The display lasted, I would guess, for 20 minutes or more.

The crowd was very friendly. The minister's wife came by and touched me on the shoulder; then the minister came by and shook my hand. The event was not publicized widely. I suspect most of the people there were members of the congregation.

Prior to the fireworks show, there was free ice cream and cake and cookies. It was easy getting into and out of the parking lot.

At lock and dam

This picture was taken somewhere along the Tennessee River, but that is just a guess. I can't recall the name of the friend next to me. I am holding a booklet titled TVA Power. TVA stands for Tennessee Valley Authority, a government program to provide electricity to areas in the South.

Who is that woman?

Here I am with my mother and father, but who is the woman on the left? Could that be my Aunt Boots? I would guess I am about six in this picture. Why was the car left open?

Enlargement of following picture

Does anyone recognize the woman in this picture?

On Playground Equipment

Halloween 1950

Here I am in my Halloween costume in 1950.

Around age 7

I don't know exactly when this picture was taken, but I would guess I am around seven years old.

At Keystone Lake

Here we are at Keystone Lake (about 10 miles west of Sand Springs). In this pecture you can see myself, my son Nick, and my wife Jan. This picture was taken on Oct. 8, 1987.

With ball

At 14 months

This photo was taken on May 13, 1949.

Made in the shade

This photo was taken on October 15, 1951 in Carbon Hill. With me is my cousin Don Nerren. We are drinking Coca Cola.

Defaced photo

I don't have any idea why this photo is marked over and broken in many places (see my knees). This is a photo of my cousin Don and myself.

Eating ice cream

I am on the left, and my cousin Don Nerren is on the right. This picture was taken in March 1952.

In Tupelo

Age 7 in Tupelo. We lived at 1527 Central Avenue.

Hammer in hand

This photo was taken on my seventh birthday.

Birthday party No. 8

From myself (in back with ice cream about to go into my mouth) going clockwise are Unknown, Pete McMurry, Jack Page, Jimmy Shirley, Dennis Shirley, Raymond ?, Unknown, and Paula.

Picnic

The film for this shot was processed in April 1959, but the picture could have been taken earlier, perhaps in March. Judging from the cannon in the right side of the picture, I would say this picture was taken at a civil war battle ground, perhaps Shiloh. I know we visited Shiloh a couple times while we lived in Mississippi. Shilod is just 50 miles to the north of Tupelo. The age of each of us is recorded on the back of the photo: Paula, 9; Danny, 11; Jean, 37. Jean is my mother.

Piano day

Today was Monday and that means piano duet rehearsal time. This morning about ten minutes before our set rehearsal time, I got a call from Gail saying she would be a few minutes late. When she arrived she said that when she was on Lewis Avenue she saw a mother duck near a storm water drain. You need to know that Gail is a wildlife rescuer. She pulled over to check things out. She saw the mother duck hanging around a drain, and down in the drain were her baby ducklings. She went back to her house and got a piece of equipment and returned to the drain. She retreived some of the ducklings, but the mother had left.

When Gail arrived, we went over the ten pieces we had selected to play. We will be playing at the Wildwood Care Center this Saturday at 2 pm. We will be rehearsing again this Friday. And then on Sunday, we will be playing "Stars and Stripes Forever" at Church of the Restoration.

Due to the rainfall we have had lately, it was not necessary to water the garden tonight.

Fourth birthday

This picture was taken on my fourth birthday.

With Paula

Here I am in Carbon Hill in May of 1952. My sister is the one with the Mohawk haircut.

Splendor in the grass

Taken in June 1952.

With my sister Paula (11 months old)

This photo was taken in May 1952.

At high school in Carbon Hill

Taken in October 1950.

Strummin' on the old banjo

Sometime in 1950.

With Mother (2)

Dated Oct. 50

With Mother (1)

From the back: "Cecil took this picture and think she likes to take a sky picture as well as her sod. 50"

Grandfather and me

From the back: "Danny and PaPa ready for Sunday School. Sept. 51"

Busy day

With a congregation as small as that of Church of the Restoration, when one person is absent the absence is noticeable. Attendance today was at 8. Missing from the congregation today was Joy. However, she had a good reason to be absent. Some one had broken into her car and stolen a few items from it.

Today's message was delivered by Vanessa Adams-Harris, just back from the 2010 General Assembly which met in Minneapolis. She gave us a report on her experience there.

Following the service, I went to the TAM meeting at the Fontana Center. (For a report of what happened there, see the Tulsa Atheist Rendezvous blog.) After this meeting was over, I went to a nearby Wendy's for a bowl of chili. Then I went to the Price's house for drumming. Following drumming, I came home.

Seeing things differently

In front yard with neighbors

I don't remember these people.

In Papa's car; Sat., 17 March

Here I am checking out the pavement below.

With my Uncle Floyd

Uncle Floyd was my dad's younger brother.

Burning up the sidewalk

Inscription on back reads "The overalls he has on are the ones Daddy Ed gave him for his birthday last year. March 17 - Sat. 51"

In the driveway

Taken Sept. 1951.

June 1950

This picture was taken in June 1950.

Playing in the snow

Here I am having fun in the snow. This picture was taken February 1, 1951.

First Birthday

This is my first birthday. I took cake to be a hands-on experience, apparently. I wonder who fixed my hair that day?