I worked at Drewry Photocolor in Burbank in the early 1970s as a custom black & white photo printer. I could crank out well over one hundred custom prints in a single day through the developer, rinse, and fix.

My mom (in the blue dress in the first picture) threw the most wonderful parties. With little month she managed streamers and party games and delicious food to celebrate every holiday and birthday, giving everyone a special day.

But, being 18 with a brand new camera and a quest for art, I selected these four shots that captured the complete opposite of the lively, laughing, splendid mood of this particular party.

The other happy shots are around here someplace, and perhaps I’ll make it far enough to find and post them. But at least you should know these aren’t exemplary, yet they still strike me as artistic representations of the question for superficial joy (though quite untrue to the subject).

Pictured above are:

1. Pavo Bloomquist, family friend and my dad’s army buddy in Japan, and my mother
2. Pavo and my great Aunt Ann (my grandfather’s sister)
3. My grandmother and balloon.
4. Alan Bigford – friend of Pavo’s