This might have been my first school party. We were in junior high — probably 7th grade. Cindy‘s dress was store-bought. My mom made my skirt and I wore her blouse and a belt. The pendant was probably my dad’s pocket watch.
I don’t remember the party at all.
There were plenty of kids living in the neighborhood where I grew up. I mostly hung out with Devin and Kathy Wolf and Lori Norris. Among other things we put on plays for our mothers and just dressed up for the fun of it.
Here we may have been playing at being pioneers, or just dressing up. Whenever I look at this photo I have to look twice, thinking each time that the hat the girl on the right has a pipe sticking out the top. We’re standing in Mrs. Wewell‘s back yard, in between two of her many lilac bushes.
Unlike these days when kids expect parties for every birthday, I only had one birthday party in my childhood. Actually I’ve only had one real birthday party in my life — not counting when family gets together. I used to be sad about that, but I think I like it better with just family.
I don’t know why my mom decided my 7th year was party-worthy. It couldn’t have been easy for her — she had an infant to care for.
I don’t remember too much about the party except for having this photo taken, hunting for taffy, and the ice cream. Mom decided to make her own ice cream and some of the kids said it was icky.
I’m Facebook friends with over half the girls in the photo.
Clutch Cargo Lips 