"Life is not significant details, illuminated by a flash, fixed forever. Photographs are." ~ Susan Sontag

My father has spent a lot of time in recent years sorting through decades of pictures, report cards, letters, etc. from all of we Rhodes Girls.  I am amazed by the things that he has saved over the years - things that I had long ago forgotten about.  He is in the process of giving each of us a bag with our own memorabilia and it has been a blast to look through them.  Some of the pictures and letters (back from when actual letters were written) are a little cringe inducing, and I probably won't share those here, but I thought it would be fun to show you a few of my earliest pictures with some of my long gone grandparents and great-grandparents.

Here I am, being held by my mother and in the company of my great-grandparents, Arthur and Fanny Anderson.  My Grandma and Grandpa Anderson emigrated to the United States, along with my grandmother, from Norway.  They lived long enough that I have very clear memories of them both, and especially clear memories of their home.  I wonder why that is?  They were wonderful, wonderful people.

I loved my Raggedy Ann (at my feet) and still have my last one, minus an arm.  I'm not sure where it went!

What a cute dress I'm wearing!

With my mother, my grandfather Paul Young, and my great-grandmother, Norma Young.  My grandfather was a real sports enthusiast, and while he loved us dearly, I suspect he would have loved a grandson somewhere in the mix!  I also have clear memories of my Great-grandma Young.  Sadly, she had not had an easy life and was therefore, not a very happy woman.

With my mother and my Grandma Lunkin.  her real name was Adelma, but my sisters and I called her Grandma Lunkin after a Norwegian song that she used to sing as she danced with us around the kitchen.  The most loving, wonderful and madcap grandmother any grandchild could ever have.

So there you have it - some of my earliest pictures.  I suspect that my bag of memorabilia will be the fodder of future posts.  If I get really, really brave - I may even share my 7th grade picture!!!