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Borrego Springs, CA

Thursday, August 18, 2011

A great family visit

Last month, I invited my brothers and their wives out for a visit at my campground, and today was the day that was chosen.  I’m so glad I did that.  It turned out to be a great day of visiting and reminiscing.    It took each of them two to three hours to get here, but I’m glad they made the effort.  Robyn, and the grandgirls, were also able to come over for a few hours before they had to leave so Robyn could do a life vest appointment, so they missed the cookout.

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This is my younger brother, Kurt.  His wife, Jody, was unable to attend as she was on call for duty as a neo-natal intensive care nurse at her hospital.  I’m sorry she wasn’t able to make it.

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This is my older brother, Carl, and his wife, Denise.  They are very recent first time grandparents to Blake.  Carl is a volunteer at the annual Oshkosh Air Show in Wisconsin, so our gathering was delayed until that was over with.

The weather cooperated for the most part until we got the food cooked over the fire.  Then all the pesky little flies and gnats moved in since there was no breeze about to blow them away.  We talked and talked and talked, until the humidity and bugs drove us into the motorhome for a while. 

Carl had brought along a thumb drive with pictures of their new grandson and some old family pictures.

1934 HOH Driving Roosavelt

I had to show you this picture of my grandfather (hidden behind the windshield).  He was the chauffeur in 1934 for Franklin D. Roosevelt during a 1934 President’s Day parade in Green Bay, Wisconsin.  You can see FDR waving his hat in the back seat.  Get a load of the lady’s dresses, and how all the men wore hats and ties.  It was certainly a different time back then.  The Secret Service men are obvious, but the President is out in the open air and not under a bulletproof bubble.  My grandfather, Oscar Hahlbohm, worked for the Pierce Arrow motor company at the time, and got the honor of being the chauffeur.  I remember hearing from my mother how the whole family was investigated at that time before he was approved to do this.

I really enjoyed seeing all the old photos again, and Carl has agreed to put them all on a thumb drive for me.  When I was in college, I compiled a photo album with all of these old pictures, but in later years my mother disassembled the album and various pictures were given to my brothers.  I no longer have any of them.  It was a great trip back in time for me today.  Carl has also agreed to take my slides from my trip to Alaska and scan them onto the same thumb drive.  I’m a happy camper tonight!

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I leave you tonight with the three Chicago kids.  I just don’t understand why we all have white hair and wear glasses!  What’s up with that??

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy

18 comments:

  1. great family day, Judy!!..thanks for sharing all the old photos!!

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  2. Always great to spend time with your siblings-even if they seem to be getting older:) some great family history there, as well

    I spent a great few days at the Oshkosh Air show back in 1985 with my father.

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  3. It's strange how that hair/glasses thing just kinda happens isn't it!? I'm so happy to hear about your great day with your sibs! Somehow, with your written words, I can feel the emotion you are feeling in your heart tonight!

    Once when I went to Maryland to visit my sister and was exposed to several different people at an event she was involved in, someone said this and it has stuck in my mind...

    "It's always fun to see the same features arranged differently on (in our case) sisters faces". I can say the same for you, only using the word siblings!

    Sleep well!!!

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  4. I talked with my brother from Wisconsin this afternoon. First time in a few months! He has an RV and goes down to AZ in the winter. He and his wife are thinking about driving out to California next fall.

    They have been here once before, but they flew!

    It's always good to see or talk to family. Glad you got to see your brothers.

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  5. Family times - always the best. That old photo of your grandfather is just priceless. What a neat thing for your brother to put old pictures on the thumb drive for you. Looks like you had a great time.

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  6. I love that neat old picture of your grandfather. What a wonderful picture to have. Family time is very precious and wonderful. Glad you were able to enjoy yours.

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  7. Good to see you had a great family day. I guess all of us Viet Nam Era kids have white hair now,some of us have white beards to go with it. Be safe out there. Sam & Donna.

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  8. What a cool photograph Judy! Sounds like you enjoyed your sibling visit very much!

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  9. "I just don’t understand why we all have white hair and wear glasses! What’s up with that??" chuckle! Honey, it's called "age"!!! It gets us all!

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  10. Loved the old pictures! and the three kids with the white hair! You guys look definitely like family. We're "Chicago" kids, sort of, too! My dad worked in Chicago downtown at the LaSalle National Bank for 42 years. We lived in the suburbs of Chicago. Used to go downtown every Christmas on the Chicago and Northwestern train as a teenager to do a little shopping at Carson PIrie Scott, and Wieboldts and look at the Christmas displays in the windows. That's a great idea of putting photos on a thumb drive.

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  11. What a fu time. Looking through family photos is such a joy. That photo of your grandfather is the best. What a treasure.

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  12. I love family gatherings, and they are even better in such a relaxed setting (rather than waiting for a wedding or a funeral). Glad everyone enjoyed it.

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  13. How nice you could all get together like that. Thanks for sharing the FDR photo.

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  14. A great family day, Judy. Better to have white hair than no hair!

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  15. What a great, fun looking group/family!!!

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  16. Awww, Judy! What a wonderful time it must have been! I'm so glad you had this opportunity to be with them. :)

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  17. WOWZA YOWZA!...I WAS CHANNELING HISTORY BY TOUCHING THE COMPUTER SCREEN RIGHT NEXT TO YOUR GRANDFATHER...AN ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL MEMORY AND PHOTO...PLEASE...HAVE THAT ONE ENLARGED FOR YOUR GRANDS....SOOOOOOOO VERY NEAT!!!!!!

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  18. What a wonderful time for other kids from Chi Town. Eventually I will get together with some more of my classmates and family all from Chicago next year. FUN!

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