It’s been a tough couple of months, but I’m finally back in the zone. We’ve been pulling all our boxes out of the carport where we keep them in storage and also plan on bringing down all the stuff we still have in storage in Big Bear.

We want to pare it all down ruthlessly – tired of being chained to all that crap (with a little good stuff mixed in). With all my parents and everyone of an older generation gone now, I’m kinda cut free from anyone who remembers my childhood.

It’s like a bubble leaving the wand – nothing else can go in it and it is no longer connected to you in a way you can change anything.

But I have all these photos, several moving boxes full that have never been looked at by me, much less scanned. And albums too. And then all the snapshots and slides I took in my early years, and all the digital photos when that came into vogue. Not to mention home movies on 8mm, Super 8, VHS, 8mm tape, and digital as well.

I honestly don’t think I even have enough time left on this planet to look at them all and give each its due. So, I’m going to try and gather the physical pictures together by person, group, or event in plastic bags – something for the family archives. And I’ll be doing the same for the digital stuff as well.

And when I skim through this material and encounter the odd shot that brings back a special memory or exemplifies someone or particularly contributes to the family history, I’ll post it here, for the kids and grandkids, for the record, and for any other friends or family to whom it might bring a smile or conjure up a recollection of their own.

So here goes….

Cousin Darline (Sklenar) Martin – Three shots I took at the house where I grew up with my mom and step dad when her family visited mine. I know I’ve posted these before, but 1971 is the first year I’ve sorted things into so that’s what you’re going to get over the next few days / weeks.