Sonia's Birthday Party

Sonia and George - 1958

I haven't been to many birthday parties in my lifetime.  The first one I can remember was when I was about five of six years old.  I was either in first or second grade.  The party was for a classmate of mine named Duer Smedley.  Of course I have no pictures of that party but the two things I remember clearly.  There were a lot of kids there and we played "Pin the Tail on the Donkey"

which I remember as being great fun.  

Me at the time of my first party - 1948

The next birthday party I can remember going to was for my longtime friend Larry.  It was his 16th birthday party.  I was 16 also and I took a date.  Her name was "Patty".  I won't mention her last name because we are still friends (class reunions) and I don't want to embarrass her. The two things I remember about his birthday party was that I had a date, Patty.  I didn't have a car.  I think Larry picked up us, I'm not sure (I am sure he will correct me though once he reads this blog posting).  The other thing I remember is that she left with Charlie Crouse:

our new classmate (transferred from another school) and who was the Hottie of the Moment (which I obviously wasn't). Oh I remember how mortified and embarrassed I was.  Not only did I have to have somebody drive me and my date to the party but my date left with someone else!  Oh the shame. He had his own car too which I think had a lot to do with Patty's decision to leave with Charlie.  Maybe not.  

My longtime friend Ed (who I just had dinner with tonight) and Walter - 1958

The next birthday party I can remember was Sonia's birthday party.  This was about the time of my graduation, 1959.  The party was in Sonia's basement.  As you know I love basements.  I also didn't have a car for this party either.  A friend (very good friend who I was very attracted to) picked me up.  That's probably why I went to the party.  I won't mention his name (because he sometimes reads this blog and I wouldn't want to embarrass him but all I can say is that he has the same name as my soon to be husband.)  I think I had a date to this party, it was Sonia's good friend Jeanette.  Jeanette was a very nice girl but she wasn't the reason I wanted to go to the party.  

Jeanette and me at my Senior Prom 1959

Sonia the Matchmaker tried but this didn't work

Jeanette later married a guy named Stanford Dunk and have a slew of kids - good for her and Standford and GOOD FOR ME!

This is one of the first times I took my camera along and made a pain out of myself by taking pictures.  Oh how I wish I had taken more pictures from the years past.  But I didn't but the few I have I am glad to share them with you now.  

The Object of my Attention (boy far right) and my date Jeanette (second from left) Notice how I snuck a picture of my fantasy?  Coincidentally his date was my cousin - small world - 1958

Sonia fell off her chair and I snapped this picture.  Notice how I again got the Object of my Attention in the picture.

Of course I was right on the spot and snapped this picture as Sonia was being rescued by the Object of My Attention.  Don't I wish this was a video?

The party winds down and Nancy, my friend Ed's sister and her boyfriend Dallet (first and last time I ever heard that name) relax - 1958 - you can see that even at the young and inexperienced age of 16 I had an eye for composition - 1958

Me- graduation DHS 1959

My Senior Prom - 1959