Ringy-dingy

Times were tough during the Great Depression.  People did whatever they had to do to make money.  One of the things my grandparents did was to run their town's telephone switchboard out of their house.

While my grandmother took care of the daily housework, my mom's sole chore was to run the switchboard.  My mom started doing this at a young age and sometimes wasn't equipped to deal with impatient townsfolk who would make snide comments when she didn't connect the calls fast enough.  Implying that my mom should be doing chores instead of running a switchboard.  My grandmother gave the impatient callers quite a tongue-lashing for getting on my mom's case and tartly informed them that the switchboard WAS my mom's chores.

I believe mom took these pictures when they were getting ready to sell the switchboard equipment in the 1960s.

Thoughtfully

 Little mom, contemplating her life choices.  Her grandmother in the background, making sure little one doesn't get out of hand.

Uninhibitedly

I haven't blogged this image before because it's severely out of focus.  However, as the years go by after a loved one has passed and new images are no longer forthcoming, I'll take what I can get.  

All I had to do was tell Mom to act goofy for the camera and she always obliged.

Energy

 Solar panel installation day.

Varoomy

 Dad's 1964 Pontiac Grand Prix.  He loved his cars.