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Here, gathered in our beloved South Dakota, are a few members of our Williamson / Mattson Clan. Charles and Luella are to be blamed (be kind, they didn't know what they were doing). We're generally a happy bunch and somewhat intelligent (notwithstanding our tenuous grasp on reality). I'm also proud to say that most of us still have our teeth.

Sunday, January 11, 2015

More Unreliable Memories Down Memory Lane, Illustrated with Pictures of the Day.

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
A new box of old family pictures was opened today revealing a few gems to brighten your Sunday afternoon.  Shall we get down to business?


This is Lisa looking all 1980's.  She's in her 'bad girl' pose.  We're from South Dakota, which is to say fashionably a decade behind the rest of the country.  I did some research just to be sure this was the fashion in the 1980's.  This is what I found fresh out of a fashion catalog of the time.


Comparing the two, I'd say Lisa was sporting the correct clothes and hair of the time - stone washed jeans and a right out of the shower hair style.  The look on her face helped her win Miss Teen South Dakota back at a time when the title meant something.  It was her well rehearsed pout with just a hint of sadness flavored with a pinch of naughtiness. That trademarked look turned many heads and pretty much guaranteed a life of pampered luxury :)
    


This picture of Lisa demonstrating the proper batting stance accompanied the 80's fashion shot.
This may be the last picture taken of Lisa wearing elastic waistline pants. The next time we see Lisa in elastic pants will be at the Nearly There Rest Home.  She'll be the one in the corner charming the widowers while hustling the new and uninitiated inmates at a game of poker.  


This picture of Janice holding baby Sheridan (?) and Luella was taken in Kim's Highland, Utah home.fifteen years or so ago. The photo was glued to a pane of glass in a frame. I believe it belonged to Grandma Violet Mattson. I couldn't peel the photo off the glass so it was scanned as is.



 This photo of three of Kim's daughters was trimmed into the shape of a heart and put in a frame - again the work of Grandma Mattson I'm sure.  It's hard to tell who they are. I asked Brock for his opinion. "They all look the same," Brock replied.  He gave me his best guess. I'll go with that.
Afton, Abrea, Avery.  Let the anger be upon Brock if he is wrong.

Annette's Christmas List



This is a real gem; Annette's Christmas wish list for herself and Bo, the family dog from the mid 1980's.  Annette was born to be a mom as evident in the wish list.  She was always thinking of others. The list for Bo is evidence of that. I don't believe our family was meant for pets.  They had to pretty much fend for themselves and knew when it was time to make their dramatic exit.

Inky, the cat with a gut of never ending hairballs, committed suicide. She sat near the station wagon's front tire and waited. She knew right when Luella would be backing out. She hobbled (arthritis) behind the front tire just when Luella put the car in reverse.  I'm sure it was excruciating painful, but over in a matter of seconds.

I think Bo did the same. He attempted to run away in the dark of night; got as far as the street and that was the end of that.  I'd like to think he was buried in the little basket and blanket Annette asked for in the Christmas list above.  It's doubtful, but I'd like to think that's how it was.


Absolute proof Annette was a great student. I present her Kindergarten report as evidence. She has one 'I' in printing her name.  Perhaps she was embarrassed to write Williamson. Remember, she was following Jilane and Lisa through school.  It's just a theory.


Annette's school picture. Looks like fifth grade.


And finally, Annette in all her glory.  A beautiful picture.  

Have a great week,

Simply,
Victor