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Last week I received a package in the mail from one of my cousins which contained many old photographs of our family. They were all great, but I was especially touched by the one's of my father when he was a young man; going into the Army.

And what's really interesting about these photographs is that although my father and I had completely different coloring (skin, eyes and hair), I recalled how much we looked alike. My father (who was Italian) had that typical Southern Mediterranean olive skin, brown eyes and dark hair. Whereas, I took after my mother (who was also Italian but from the North), with light skin, blue eyes and light hair. 

When I was kid (and even as I got older), whenever my father and I would walk into a room, people would always say, "Boy...there is no mistaking you for Frank's son.You look just like him!" Which always made me proud because, like any son, I loved and respected my father very much.

So please allow me to share some vintage photographs of Dad...


With his mother.

  
I have no idea who the other young man is in this photograph. My father's cousin perhaps?


I'm not sure, but I think this may be one of my father's buddies growing up because I've seen him in other pictures. Whoever he is, he looks SO Italian, doesn't he? MAFIA!


Again, I have no idea who the little girl is, or the other people are in this photograph. It's such a cool picture though, isn't it? I love the older cars on the street!

Also included in the photographs sent to me, where ones of my Christening. I was born in October of 1955, so judging from the dates on these photos, I was only two months old when they were taken...


Being held by my godparents, who were my father's brother and sister. Isn't it funny to look at photographs of when you were a baby and think that you were ever that tiny?


My godmother

Me, lying in bed; contemplating what I'm going to do with my life. Don't you just love how my hair is twirled up to a point on my head? I look like the Gerber baby! And what the hell is that stuffed toy in the background? 


Me, catching a few Z's in my bassinet. I'm assuming I must have been exhausted after the festivities of being christened and then being held, pinched and kissed by so many family members, that I needed a rest.

"Shhhh...please do not disturb. I'm napping."


Have a faaaabulous week, y'all!
X


30 comments:

  1. Ron, what a fantastic post! I LOVE these old photos!


    It's so important to preserve these images of our past. They provide such an important connection to our loved ones. They're little pieces of history. I know the feeling of seeing these unidentified people in old photos. It can be a little frustrating sometimes, but they also give the picture an air of mystery as we forever wonder who these folks were.


    Love the Baby Ron photos. But where's the mustache?!? And by the way, I think you're much cuter than the Gerber baby!

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  2. Oh Ron, what a touching post! Yes, you do very much look like your father. And what a handsome man he was in his military suit! I have always been fascinated with vintage photographs, even if I don't know who the people are because I wonder who they are and what they were like. I also enjoy looking at the styles back then. Love the cars that photo.

    And oh my god, those baby pictures of you are so precious. "Me, lying in bed; contemplating what I'm going to do with my life. Don't you just love how my hair is twirled up to a point on my head? I look like the Gerber baby!Lol What a cute little baby you were!



    Have a wonderful week, Ron x

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  3. Ron, you and I are close to the same age because I have many old family photographs that look almost the same. Great pictures of your father in his uniform. Good-looking man! I definitely see the resemblance. Why is it that people seemed more mature-looking back then? Even the younger kids.


    My husband is Italian and like you, is on the lighter side. His father was light and his mother was dark. Both his siblings took after his mother.

    Love your baby photographs! What a cute bambino you were. And is that a chenille bedspread you're laying on? I remember those!



    This post makes me want to look through my family photos.

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  4. Hey there Rob!

    I got an email from my cousin last week and she said that she was going to mail me some photographs that her mother had, but wanted to give to me. There were many others with my mother and brother in them, which I may post at a later time.

    I LOVE how you said this...

    "It's so important to preserve these images of our past. They provide such an important connection to our loved ones. They're little pieces of history."

    You are so right about that! Little pieces of history that connect us like a link.

    "I know the feeling of seeing these unidentified people in old photos. It can be a little frustrating sometimes, but they also give the picture an air of mystery as we forever wonder who these folks were."

    Yes, it definitely gives the picture of air of mystery as we wonder WHO those people are. And I feel that when I look at these.

    "Love the Baby Ron photos. But where's the mustache?!?"

    It was there, but it was only peach fuzz then - HA!

    Thanks so much for stopping by, buddy. Have a terrific week. And I hope all went well on your first day at the new place!

    X

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  5. Hola Denise!

    " you do very much look like your father."

    Yes, don't I? And I could really see it when I looked at these photographs. I looked like my mother too. I was a combination of them both, but I think my father's features dominated.

    "I have always been fascinated with vintage photographs, even if I don't know who the people are because I wonder who they are and what they were like. I also enjoy looking at the styles back then."



    OMG, me too! Sometimes if I'm in a bookstore, I will look through photography books of vintage images and be fascinated with wondering all sorts of things about all the people in the pictures. That's a very cool thing about pictures, they're a captured moment in time!


    Thanks so much for stopping by, girl. Hope you had a great Monday!

    X

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  6. Hiya Elaine!

    Yes, can you see the resemblance between my Dad and me? We had the same shaped eyes (only his were brown) and the same thick eyebrows. We also had the same shaped chin and smile.

    "Why is it that people seemed more mature-looking back then? Even the younger kids."

    HA! OMG, yes...I think the same thing! People did look more mature-looking back then. Perhaps it has to do with the pictures themselves.

    " And is that a chenille bedspread you're laying on? I remember those!"



    You have a very keen eye because yes it was! Chenille was a very popular fabric back then. I remember watching an old I Love Lucy episode where Ethel wore a chenille bathrobe!


    Thanks a bunch for stopping by, my friend. Have a super week!
    X


    P.S Can you believe the rain we got today? And it's so much cooler. I love it!

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  7. Oh wow, another great post. I LOVED this, Ron. There is no mistaking whose son you are... you're the image of your dad and just as handsome now as he was. Italians always copped for the good looks, must be all that oil in the skin. I'm so pleased your cousin sent the pictures to you and that you gave us the opportunity to gloat over them.


    Have a great day, my friend x

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  8. There is NO mistaking that you and your father look like each other! I notice the resemblance immediately!! I see you were rockin' the up and coming hairstyle...even way back then!! :) What the heck is that stuffed thing behind you?? Funny to look at old toys now, isn't it?? We have found some around our house while cleaning out closets and I think the kids would have been scared to death of them!! It was nice of your cousin to share these photos with you! Happy Tuesday to you!! I am SO behind in catching up on stuff!! xo

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  9. What a treasure to receive in the mail! It's amazing your resemblance to your father! It's always a little sad though when you have no clue who the others are in old photographs.

    I know what that stuffed animal is because I had one, though mine was a clown (super scary, huh?) They were usually homemade toys, sewn together and dried beans were used to stuff them. The heavy beans enabled the toy to stand up without support on its two legs.

    Now you know!

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  10. Ron, it's uncanny you posted about old family photographs because I just recently moved to a smaller home and discovered a box of photographs of my family in the attic which I had forgotten about. There were pictures of my grandmother who passed away when I was a teenager. I was very close to her so it brought back a lot of sentimental memories.

    Wonderful pictures of your father. And I like that you didn't try to edit them. So many times people attempt to enhance old photos to make them look better. But I think vintage photos look best with all the discoloration and marks.

    Cute baby pictures!

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  11. Good morning Valerie!

    Aw...thank you :) My mother always said that my father resembled the American actor, Glenn Ford. And she was right, he did.

    "Italians always copped for the good looks, must be all that oil in the skin."



    HA! Yes, all that olive oil they cook with!


    I was so delighted to receive the picture package that my cousin sent me. There are several of my mother and brother, which I may share in a future post.


    Thanks so much for stopping by, dear lady. Have a super day!
    X to you and Joe

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  12. Hellooooooo there Jeanne!

    " I see you were rockin' the up and coming hairstyle...even way back then!! :)"

    HAHAHAHA! Yeah, it was the infamous Gerber Baby hairstyle back then that so many mother's tired to emulate on their babies.

    "What the heck is that stuffed thing behind you??"

    I don't know, but it looks like a stuffed CLOWN. And OMG, I hated clowns. SCARY!

    " It was nice of your cousin to share these photos with you!"



    Yes, wasn't it? There were several of my mother and brother which I may share in a future post.


    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Happy Tuesday to ya!


    X to you and the girlz

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  13. Isn't it amazing the resemblance between my father and me? I was his clone - HA!

    "It's always a little sad though when you have no clue who the others are in old photographs."

    Back then, sometimes people would write on the back of the photo who the people were in the photographs because I have several like that. However, I also have many that I have no clue who the people are. Oh well, I guess it will always be a mystery.

    "I know what that stuffed animal is because I had one, though mine was a clown (super scary, huh?) They were usually homemade toys, sewn together and dried beans were used to stuff them. The heavy beans enabled the toy to stand up without support on its two legs."



    Thank you SO MUCH for sharing that because I had a feeling it was a clown but wasn't sure. And OMG, I hated clowns. SCA-RY! Perhaps in the photograph that's why I'm looking AWAY from it - HA!


    Have a super week, my friend. And thanks a bunch for stopping by!
    X

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  14. Hey there Suzanne!

    " I just recently moved to a smaller home and discovered a box of photographs of my family in the attic which I had forgotten about. There were pictures of my grandmother who passed away when I was a teenager. I was very close to her so it brought back a lot of sentimental memories."

    OMG, that IS uncanny! I remember when I went back to Florida right after my mother passed away and found a trunk filled with old family photographs and had the same experience. My brother and I sat around looking through all the photographs; recalling memories.

    "So many times people attempt to enhance old photos to make them look better. But I think vintage photos look best with all the discoloration and marks."



    I agree, I like them with all the discoloration and marks because they have that 'vintage' look.


    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Have a terrific week!


    X

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  15. Ron, there is no mistaking you for your father. You're the spitting image! These photographs rock! I love looking at old pictures and examining everything. There is still something about film photography that I perfer over digital because it's a whole different feel.

    "Me, lying in bed; contemplating what I'm going to do with my life."Lol And that's exactly what you looked like!

    How nice of your cousin to send you these photographs.

    As always, great post, dude!

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  16. Hiya Matt!

    "You're the spitting image!"

    Isn't is something how much we looked alike? People used to also say that I looked a lot like his father, yet he and my father looked nothing alike. I think it was because I had my grandfather's stature. He was very small and on the thin side, and so am I.

    "There is still something about film photography that I prefer over digital because it's a whole different feel."



    I agree! There is something 'special' about film photography. Like you said, a feel.


    Thanks so much for stopping by, buddy. Have a most excellent week!
    X

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  17. Ron, these are such wonderful photos! And yes, I can see the family resemblance (so you're "double Italian"? Very cool!)

    I love when my mom and her sister get together and browse old family photographs. Sadly, unless somebody took the time to write IDs on the backs, even they don't know who's who! Perhaps that's why I'm kind of anal about writing the who, what, when, and where on the backs of pictures (at least this way, Domer won't have to play the guessing game!)

    You can tell you were a much-loved baby -- I'm drooling over your bassinet! As for that stuffed toy, I'm guessing it's a bear (nobody would give a CLOWN to a baby, right?!?)

    Happy rest-of-the-week to you, dear!

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  18. I agree: you're the spitting image of your dad. And I also couldn't help but notice the old cars in the background, before you even pointed them out. I'm a sucker for anything vintage, including photos. Especially photos. Thanks for sharing these!

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  19. Wow, you really do look like your dad! I love looking at vintage photos!

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  20. What fabuloso photographs, Ron! Your father was such a handsome man! And I can see the resemblance so much. As you know, I'm of Latin descent so most of my family members are darker in color like your dad. But I do have an uncle who is much lighter with blue eyes and have always wondered where he got it from. He looks like my mother, only a lighter version.


    Love your baby pictures! That one of you on the bed is adorable! My mother has many pictures of me as a baby and I too have always wondered, how could I have been that tiny?


    Weren't cars back then so stylish? And BIG.


    Fun post!

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  21. Me too, Suzi! And I'm so glad my cousin sent me these photographs.


    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Have a terrific week!
    X

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  22. Hey ho Robert!

    Thank you :)

    " As you know, I'm of Latin descent so most of my family members are darker in color like your dad. But I do have an uncle who is much lighter with blue eyes and have always wondered where he got it from. He looks like my mother, only a lighter version."

    Isn't it something how that happens? I wonder if some people take on the genes of generations from far back and perhaps that's why. I'm the only one in my family with blue eyes, everyone else has either brown or green. And it's funny because I've always wanted brown eyes.

    "Weren't cars back then so stylish? And BIG."



    Yes, and so SOLID. They much heavier. I love the cars of the 30's, 40's and 50's!


    Thanks so much for stopping by, buddy. Have a fabuloso week!
    X

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  23. "I agree: you're the spitting image of your dad."

    Isn't that something, Mark? I'm like a carbon copy, only a lighter version.

    "And I also couldn't help but notice the old cars in the background, before you even pointed them out. I'm a sucker for anything vintage, including photos. Especially photos."



    Me too! I love ANYTHING vintage! I think it's because of the way they FEEL when I look at them. Especially pictures!


    Thanks a bunch for stopping by, buddy. Have a faaaaaabulous week!
    X to you and Tara

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  24. Helloooooo there Debbie!

    " (so you're "double Italian"? Very cool!)"

    Yup, I'm a DOUBLE Italian! Both sides. But it's funny because people who first meet me don't ever think I'm Italian. They think I'm Jewish. Which is ironic because when I was still acting, I got cast in four different plays where I played Jewish men - HA! So I guess I do look Jewish!

    "Sadly, unless somebody took the time to write IDs on the backs, even they don't know who's who! Perhaps that's why I'm kind of anal about writing the who, what, when, and where on the backs of pictures (at least this way, Domer won't have to play the guessing game!)"

    Good for you for doing that! A lot of the vintage photographs I have of my family, do have the names written on the back. However, I also have a lot that don't. And it's a bummer because I don't know who these people are?!

    " I'm drooling over your bassinet!"



    HA! Wasn't that bassinet amazing? God, they don't make them like that anymore, do they?


    I think the stuffed toy was a CLOWN because one of my readers said that she had something similar when she was a child. Which is hilarious because clowns scare the hell out of me. That's probably why I'm looking away from it in the photograph - HA!


    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Have a GREAT rest of the week!


    X

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  25. http://ladyfi.wordpress.comThursday, June 04, 2015

    What sweet sweet memories!

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  26. What a treasure! I love genealogy and have lost entire weeks researching and recording information. I think it's fascinating to see where we came from and find anecdotal stories about the past. I've been fortunate to find a few of those up in my family tree. Every once in a while I put together a blog post about some random relative. Preserving those photos of yours digitally would be a top priority!

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  27. Oh, these are just the best Ron. :-) Just swell!!!


    I LOVE vintage photos, and that era was one where everyone was snapping (remember that word!!!) lots of photos. I know that was certainly the case in our family. How I long to see those photos again!! In storage right now. :-(


    In the meantime, what fun to see yours and you as a baby! What a hoot. I like that one where you have your little arms raised. I wonder what you were thinking, looking up at that lovely lady holding you and smiling down at you?


    Your dad was one handsome guy! What a compliment to be told you looked like him I'm sure. :-)


    Have a super weekend! What's your weather doing? More rain on the way here I think but that's ok, G :-)

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  28. Thanks, Fiona :) I was so delighted to receive these photographs in the mail. They brought back a lot of wonderful memories for me.

    Hope you're having a terrific week, my friend. And thanks so much for stopping by!
    X

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  29. Hey there Lisa!

    "I love genealogy and have lost entire weeks researching and recording information. I think it's fascinating to see where we came from and find anecdotal stories about the past. I've been fortunate to find a few of those up in my family tree."

    That's AWESOME! Several years ago, a blogging friend of mine did some genealogy research on my family tree and discovered a ton of information. It's fascinating!

    " Preserving those photos of yours digitally would be a top priority!"



    Yes, you're right, I need to have these photographs digitally preserved so that they last. Thank you for the reminder :)


    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Hope you're having a GREAT week!

    X

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  30. Hellooooooooo there Geraldine!

    "I LOVE vintage photos, and that era was one where everyone was snapping (remember that word!!!) lots of photos."

    Yes, I do! And you're right, everyone was snapping lots of photos!

    " I wonder what you were thinking, looking up at that lovely lady holding you and smiling down at you?"



    I was probably thinking, "I need my diaper changed" - HAHAHA! She is actually my aunt, as well as my godmother. She's still living in California, close to where my cousin lives.


    The weather here has been very unusual for June. It's been raining a lot and very chilling. It feels almost like FALL weather. I'm not complaining though, because I am not looking forward to the summer heat in July. So, I'm just going to enjoy this cooler weather as long as it's here.


    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Have a SUPER weekend! God, can you believe it's almost the weekend?!

    X

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