Family portrait…circa 1934

Yep, here we are … all 5 of us. I can’t believe that I was ever that small. I’m the little one in the middle with the straight hair and the leather shoes!

What interests me is that the expressions we had then really reveal the personalities that were to be ours for the rest of our lives. Starting from the top left we have Mary Jane, the oldest and the most “saintly” of us all by far. She was the one that all the husbands gravitated to when they had a problem. She would LISTEN!

Next is Barbara (top right). A female with strong opinions who never failed to let her ideas be known. I’ve found that we can get along just fine if we stay away from politics, religion and AA; but, I have to give her strong points for making sure that the family has kept connected over the years …through thick and thin.

Below her is Nancy, the comedienne of the family. She was the originator of most of the practical jokes that seemed to pop up regularly in our household and was a great favorite with the British sailors that we entertained during World War II.

Bottom left is Peggy Ann…my closest sister. As her expression shows she ponders most situations until they are perfectly clear and then she moves ahead with assurance. She has a warm and loving personality and was probably the most domestic of us all. I envied her cooking ability.

And now it’s been 76 years since that picture was taken and of course time has taken it’s toll. Everyone is still alive but I’m the only one who’s still mobile. My expression??? I guess it’s a cross between “duh” and “are you sure?” !