Thursday, August 30, 2007

Throwback Thursday #11



It's become a weekly ritual now to post Throwback Thursdays. I am so thankful that Sharon, Audrey and Jane initiated this project. It's so neat to take a walk down memory lane. It's also interesting to see other people's Throwback photos and read about their memories of childhood, adolescence and growing up.

After being back on the Island from a few days in Montreal with my family, I realize more and more just how homesick I am. I'm not homesick for the city. I just miss my family. I spent my childhood growing up with my cousins. Our houses were all walking distance (or biking distance) from each other. We spent our summer vacations together playing in the park, building forts, swimming, and getting into all sorts of trouble together. In the winter, we'd go skating, sledding, skiing and have snowball fights together. One winter, we built this massive ice fort in our frontyard. Dad even made a skating rink in our backyard for us. Good times!

My aunts and uncles were like parents to us. My grandparents were superheroes to us. They seemed so strong and invincible. They were immortal in our eyes. It just feels really nice to be part of such a close-knit family. This is why being so far away is sometimes difficult. I know that everyone has to grow up and have their own life though. Sooner or later, people move and have their own families.
Our childhood days now seem so innocent and carefree. Endless hours of playing in the streets until the sun set and going on little adventures on our bicycles unaccompanied by adults were not uncommon then. We rarely stayed inside the house or sat in front of the TV or computer for hours on end. We made our own fun and were never bored. There was always something to do.


The above photo is of Middle Brother, True Numperor, Hawaii Joe, P, Married Winkle and yours truly. I was the only girl for the longest time, so I grew up playing with the boys. Much to my mother's dismay, I hated wearing dresses and I hated wearing pink.

Here's a photo of P, Hawaii Joe, Middle Bro and me. We would spend hours outside in the snow! I don't know how we did it, because now I get cold even just cleaning the snow off of my vehicle in the winter!
This is an old photo of the eldest cousins (In this photo:True Numperor, Middle Bro, moi and Hawaii Joe). Back then, it was just the five of us. P is missing from this photo. Sleepovers were the norm for us back then. We loved spending as much time as possible with our cousins. We had a blast. I have nooooooooooo idea why I'm making that face, so don't ask! LOL!
I just realized that you can totally tell what decade this was from the furniture in this photo!!!

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

O! You guys were such cute little things! How nice it was that you all grew up so close like brothers and sisters. To be honest, i never really saw my cousins, let alone hang out with them like you did/do! Your really lucky.

Cherry said...

Really, you were lucky!
I also didn't get to spend much time with my cousins, and now, due to stupid father/uncle/aunt quarrels, I don't even know where they live.

Eric's sister and my brother live far from us, and we all wish we could live closer so that our kids can grow up together. Sadly, I don't think this will happen. But thank goodness for frequent flyer miles!

Ms. Mamma said...

Cute. It's so swingingly 70's sister! Love it.

Uncivil said...

Chrissy
I remember growing up with my cousins during the summers on my grandparents farm.

Those were the days, and I thought my grandparents were hero's too!

I remember building tree houses and forts in my nieghborhood subdivision with several kids in the nieghborhood.

Back then I had a friend and his Dad's carpenter crews built most of the houses in the subdivision, and he told us we could have any wood from the scrap piles, and he would give us enough nails to build our tree houses.

I love your Throwbacks!!!!!!

Karen MEG said...

Such cute photos Chrissy, it's wonderful that you and your cousins were so close growing up and are obviously so close to this day.
We were just visiting with my parents, siblings, and their new little babies today (along with my surrogate baby sis Cecilia and another close cousin) and I'm hopeful that the kids will grow up to be really close cousins too.
I love that last sleepover photo - so fun!

Unknown said...

Anon:
Thank you. You know, many of my friends tell me that they never really ever hung out with their cousins, and if they did, it wasn't cool. Nah, not for this gal. Hangin' with my cousins was always cool. We were like brothers and sisters and best of friends.

Cherry:
Yes! I totally hear you about living far away from siblings. I had always imagined my kids growing up with my brothers' kids and my cousins' kids...and everyone being close like when we were little. All those Christmas gatherings and Thanksgiving dinners...Easter egg hunts and trick or treating on Halloween...and now that we all live so far away, I'm sad that my kids will never get the childhood I had. Okay, I am officially very, very sad. LOL!

Unknown said...

Ms.Mamma:
You've gotta love the 70's! All the shag carpets, afghan rugs, polyester, vinyl, tight pants, long hair, groovy music, roller skates, drive-in movie theatres, Saturday morning cartoons, actual toys in the cereal boxes...*sigh* Those were the good 'ol days!

Uncivil:
Sounds like you had a blast too! Think you'll ever start your own Throwback Thursdays? ;)

Unknown said...

Karen:
Curiosity Killer is here on the Island. We had a blast today. Total giggle fest! We went sightseeing, visited the Bridal Veil Falls, hung out and drank mojitos (and we both got pretty smashed after ONE drink...so sad), went to the Garden's Gate for supper and back to our house, where CK introduced me to a very entertaining show. Can't remember the name of it (I blame the mojitos!) but will find out in the morning.

CK was talking about how much fun you are and I can't wait to meet you next time I'm in TO!!! She thinks you and I will hit it off! Can't wait!

louann said...

Oh that is just so sweet. You had such a wonderful childhood.

Anonymous said...

I just love that you and your family are so close. Even though you grew up with brothers, you clearly had so many close girl relatives with whom to have some sisterly fun time!

Thanks for sharing!!

Jane, P&B Girls

Anonymous said...

My cousins are all knobs. I'm a complete tosser so I imagine they think me the same.

-Pete

Unknown said...

Louann:
I have to admit, that I did have a great childhood and I really miss the good 'ol days. Man, I sound old! LOL!

Jane:
Surprisingly, I didn't have any girls around growing up. Out of 12 cousins on my mom's side, I was the only girl for the longest time! ALL BOYS! Grrr! My mom's youngest sister had a girl when I was 10, so it was like having a younger sister.My mom had a second cousin who had a daughter, so instead of calling her my fourth cousin (I don't even know if that's the relation. Family trees confuse me! LOL!) I just called her my cousin too. We are a year apart and she has been a very important person in all of my life's events. That is why she was my maid of honor at our wedding :)

I wish I had a sister like you have in Audrey though! I just love all your stories and photos. It must be nice to have such a wonderful bond with someone!

Pete:
You are so crazy!! :) By the way, what time is it where you are???

Anonymous said...

Hey, great photos!

Not only can I tell what decade that furniture is from, I still have some right here in this room. I kept some of my mother's stuff . . . it was like the day they delivered it and the couch, in particular, is so comfortable. My kids and dogs pile on it and watch tv -- on a set that looks much like the one in that picture! :-) People don't believe me until they come over and see the 25" tv my father purchased in 1977 . . . with a nice clear picture and stereo sound!

Anonymous said...

once again your pics are adorable!!! I think i was even in that basement, with that couch at one of your tita's houses...
I'll have to drag the photo albums out of my parents basement so i can also get back on the TT horse it was so much fun!!

BeachMama said...

My family grew up very close too! And the couple of years we were out West in Manitoba were hard because we didn't get to see them often enough. We also have similar photos of playing outside together and sleepovers, etc. Sorry you are pretty far away from them in mileage, hopefully you can keep them close in your heart with your visits and your blog.

Unknown said...

JHS:
Thank you for your comment and thank you for popping by my blog :) I just checked yours out and shall be returning again and again.

Dina:
Thanks! You probably did go to that tita's house! LOL! You've been to so many of my family members' houses over the past few years! :)
Can't wait to see your next Throwback Thursday photos! xo

Unknown said...

Beachmama:
Thank you for your comment. You always seem to know just the perfect thing to say!
Thinking of you and can't wait to hear about your baby girl's arrival! xo

From Our Farm to Your Table

Blog Archive

Farmers Feed Cities

You Can Find Me Here!




Affiliates

Brand Ambassador for

For Fellow Bloggers

Connect With Advertisers - Sign up for SocialSpark!
A Reliable Blogger

Proud Recipient

© 2006 - 2012 Life on Manitoulin. All Rights Reserved. Powered by Blogger.

About the Blog Author


City girl moves to the country, falls in love, and marries a farmer. She tries to incorporate her city ways with her new country lifestyle and blogs to keep in touch with friends, family & students who live far, far away :) Can this city girl go country? Watch as she learns all sorts of exciting things about life on the farm and in a small rural community. *UPDATE* We are now parents! Our baby girl was born on Nov. 11, 2008 (at 28 weeks gestation- 12 weeks premature, but she's quite the trooper)!!!
Contact Me

Les Boutons!

Life on Manitoulin: Just a bunch of ramblings from a city girl gone country!

Life on Manitoulin: Just a bunch of ramblings from a city girl gone country!

Let's Connect

Members

Support


Photobucket


Related Posts with Thumbnails