Sibling Love

I have three sisters. Of course, each of us will now claim to have been the best child a parent could possibly hope to have.

I recently came upon evidence to the contrary. First, I give you exhibit A:

l - r: Paul, Peggy and Nancy after Paul's high school graduation, 1965
Image courtesy Nancy, of course!

Now, in case the quality of this old photo doesn't allow you to see the detail of Peggy's face, check out this cropped close-up:

Ah, what a sweetheart! She sure looks like someone headed to Ohio State University, doesn't she? A Buckeye for sure. Nancy still remembers how angry Mom was upon seeing the photo in print.

This next shot, from 1955 or so, shows true brotherly love for his little sister. I don't recall what the problem was exactly, but I believe I was saying, "hold your head up and smile for cryin' out loud!"

Nancy looked very cute in that fancy coat, but I was truly stylin' with the
bow tie and huge cowlick!

Oh, sweet memories of how well we all got along and what perfect children we were, eh?

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Sweet Memories

Sitting in church this past Sunday morning, the organist played a bit of Just As I Am Without One Plea and, as usual, I was taken back 50+ years ago in a flash. My Grandpa Griffith loved to watch the Billy Graham Crusades on TV and I would sit on the big, wide arm of his easy chair to watch alongside him. Grandpa was a man of few words, but once in a while he would say, "that's right" or give an "Amen" during the broadcast.

Grandpa, Grandma, sister Nancy and me on the front porch
of their home outside Medaryville, Indiana, circa 1955.

Actually, seated that close I can also remember the sweet smell of the tobacco he was always chewing. I do come from a long line of tobacco users and those memories can come roaring back instantly with the aroma of tobacco or even with a special song or hymn from long ago.