I've shared a couple of Mike's first grade photos. They are just delightful to me and I am so very thankful that his mother held on to them. I love seeing what he looked like all those years ago and imagining what sort of child he was.
I've found several other school photos and decided I would share them in a post. I've tried to parcel out some of the photos to his two children but I also want to record some here where they will be all together.
Mike is not certain which photo matches what grade. But, we have sort of put them in a chronological order as best he can remember.
Since Kindergarten wasn't a part of the public school system back in the day when we were in school, we think this photo is one that was taken at about first grade level or about five years old. Look at that buzz haircut! Can't you just feel the velvety softness of it prickling against your palm?
He tells tales about a barber here in this community who would cut his hair and often would nick his ears. That made me chuckle.
My great uncle was a barber and Mike said he got haircuts from him sometimes. We both talked about how Uncle Carroll always gave patrons a piece of bubblegum after cutting our hair.
We are guessing that the photo above probably came next in his timeline. I'll bet if he had smiled big for the first photo, we would have seen a snaggle-toothed little fellow. This one sort of looks like those missing teeth have been replaced by new ones and a new hair style has been adopted.
What a mischievous look he has! His auburn hair and a similar tint of shirt tells me it is a fall school picture in all likelihood.
I am impressed that his mother sent him to school in that shiny white turtleneck. I'm wondering if it looked that pristine when he stepped off the school bus in the afternoon. I'm also guessing this might have been a time in his life where the barber might have snipped his ears a little. (I'm guessing he probably was not still as a statue sitting in that barber chair!)
We both think this photo was taken during the time when we dated as high school student. He probably was somewhere between the ages of sixteen and seventeen in this picture. Oh, the youthful innocence of those days! Very little responsibility and big dreams. Ten foot tall and bulletproof with lots of swagger!
Finding these school photos has made me notice how much his grandchildren share many characteristics. It has given Mike the opportunity to share some long bygone tales of his youth. It makes us smile at the fashions and hairstyles. One thing I really like about all of them is that he is smiling in them. I wish boys would smile in their photos today so that years down the road their descendants will notice what a happy childhood is like. I think most of the young guys today try to look macho and tough and don't smile for photos as a result. Yet, most of them are full of smiles and giggles and laughter hanging out with their friends.
I'm inspired to dig through some of the things Mama has given me and share some of my own school pictures soon. Stay tuned!