Christmas' on Verbena Street

First photo was Christmas 1961. Yes, I am aware that I look like I am on drugs or at least some heavy medication!


Of course, that's my father and mother in the back and Eric and I in front.

2nd photo was taken at Christmas time again on Verbena Street. The house in the background is that of my Grandma and Grandpa Seligman. What a beautiful home that was!


Lee was home that year on leave from the Navy and I think that is the year we celebrated not only Christmas, but Hanukkah as well. I loved celebrating Hanukkah - gifts for 8 days each better than the day before and wonderful food too (mazto ball soup - yummy Cortni!) - what else could a kid ask for?

I'm sure you are by now laughing out loud at the plaid and tweed coats - my "blue" glasses and the BAD hair cut (I think my mother must have trimmed my bangs) and look closely at the fur lined ear "flaps" on my brother's hat.

Anyway, we had driven all night from Louisiana to spend the holidays with both sets of grandparents. Imagine the surprise Eric and I had when we saw what seemed to be 10 feet of snow! We had never seen that much snow before. I can remember sledding - snowmen and snowball fights - damn Eric you threw that one too hard - it hurt!


The photos below were also taken Christmas - 1962 - OMG - it just dawned on me - that was 46 years ago!

Left to right:

Uncle Lee, Aunt Boddy, Eric, Uncle Selly. Lee gave me one of his hats and I used to wear it everywhere! He was my hero!

Below are Lee and "big sister" May (my mother). Such a happy holiday - at least that's the way I remember it.

Apologies

I feel that I need to apologize for this blog not being in chronological order.

As Lee sends the scans, they spark a memory or an emotion and that is where the photos end up - totally out of sequence.

Realize that I too am seeing a great many of these pictures for the first time. I just feel the need to share them as quickly as possible before time slips away and they end up buried on my hard drive

A Birthday Evening?

Fuzzy photo of my parents May Margret Seligman Erickson and William Murphy Erickson. Probably taken in 1954 (but not absolutely sure). I do know this was taken outside my grandparents house on 16th Street in Washington, DC.

Since they both looked dressed to the "t" this is possibly a night out on the town for their birthdays. My parents were both born on August 14th. My mother (if memory serves - and it doesn't too much lately) in 1929 and my father exactly 2 years earlier.

Again if memory serves, they met in college (George Washington?) and had a brief courtship before marrying in May of 1948.

My brother Eric was born on October 26, 1949 and I followed three years later on November 12, 1952.

How strange to look at this handsome couple and think of them as my parents. The memories that I have stored are of them in much later years. My father I can only remember in work clothes and boots with totally gray hair. My mother appears to me in business attire. They look so very young with the whole world in front of them and not a care in the world.

Wouldn't it be wonderful to just choose a photo - jump back in it and start again from there? That's me - a dreamer always was - always will be.

Vacationing

Not too sure about this photo except it was taken pre-1960 at the Concord Hotel in the Catskills.

This is all I could find on the Internet regarding that hotel. It must have been a favorite get-away for the Seligman clan as I have several photos with reference to this landmark.

"11-06-1998 Landmark Catskills Hotel Shuts Doors: The Concord Resort Will Be Auctioned Off, Marking End of an Era NEW YORK -- The Concord Resort Hotel, one of the premier Jewish getaways in the Catskills that for years served as a summer home to thousands of Jewish families and spawned a extraordinary culture of its own..."

"Many decades ago, the Concord, in the community of Kiamesha Lake, about 90 miles northwest of New York, was the newest and swankiest place in the Catskills for weddings, bar mitzvahs and family reunions. It was part of the Borscht Belt, a group of resorts that catered to a mostly Jewish clientele, and for many years, it occupied a place in many hearts as a family vacation home.

Not only was there segregation of African-Americans in the South, but Jewish people were segregated to their own resorts and country clubs as well all around the United States.

The Rabbit AGAIN

Lee appears to be about 3 or 4 in this photo with my grandparents Dorothy and Mervin Seligman. That "rabbit" must have gone everywhere with him. Today we call that a woobie!

Funny, I never saw my grandfather without glasses on - I guess I just assumed he always wore them. Strange the things we remember - isn't it? Handsome 1940's family - don't you think?

And last but not least - Cortni and family

Sometimes surprises can be the best things in the world. Not only was Cortni a total surprise for me, but her son Mason was a total surprise for her and Brian. What a little charmer he can be! Anyone I know would give anything to have those huge beautiful eyes and those loooong eyelashes!

I was going to post another photo of the family, but the picture is so small that I chose this one instead. Of course, that is my daughter (and youngest child) Cortni, her husband Brian and Mr. Mason Taylor Fleske. The perfect family in my book (or should I say on my blog!).

A few weeks back, Cortni took Mason to the beach. They had such a wonderful time together. Mason loves anything having to do with water whether it be swimming or simply jumping in a big puddle! Think he might get that from the Seligman side. Anyway... he is ALL boy!

Mason's 5th birthday portrait. Having a daughter who is a photographer has it's "Nana" advantages. When all the other grandma's are showing Sear's Portrait Studio photos of their grandchildren.... I can whip these out!

Mason starts kindergarten this year - I'm not sure where the time has gone. It's probably a toss up as to who is more excited about his new charter school... Mason or Cortni. Mason is so smart. Even though Cortni and Brian have had to work Mason's entire life, they have made sure he was in a pre-school and not just in child care. Between that and the work they do with him at home, he is way beyond an ordinary public school. He needs to be challenged and according to Cortni this school will be just the ticket.

Tiffani and Athena Shelton

Going to try to finish the introductions of family to family today as I don't know when I will get a chance to continue with the blog.

So.... moving to the "middle child" Tiffani and her daughter Athena....Tiffani was certainly blessed when she had this little girl. Athena is full of wisdom far beyond her 9 years. She is a kind and loving child who is quite shy at first but once she warms up to you she is funny and social. Athena knows how to be a child when she is with her friends, but also can be quite adult when the situation calls. I sometimes say she is 9 going on 25.

This portrait was taken by a friend of Cortni's when Athena and Tiffani were visiting in Georgia. As memory serves, it was taken last summer. Mother and daughter are more than just that - they are close friends as well. What a combination they are!


Athena and Wendall just after Athena got her first pair of glasses. Unfortunately, I think all of my children and grandchildren will inherit my eyesight. Let's just hope that none are as blind as me. Athena wants to be a veterinarian when she grows up. She loves animals of any kind (especially horses!). If she has half the determination of her mother, I know she will accomplish that goal.

Miss Athena is off to a great start of being an accomplished violinist. This photo was taken at her last recital. She played so beautifully that day. In fact she plays so well that she was chosen to play in a group of much older students and her instructor for one piece. I was busting with pride that day!

Athena also loves ballet. This photo was also taken at this year's recital. There were lots of family and friends to see her dance. I know Nana's are supposed to brag, but everyone else said she was the BEST too! She was so graceful - she nearly floated across the stage!