Christmas in the 1950s

In some ways, but certainly not all, my family bore some resemblance to the Parker family of Jean Shepard's classic A Christmas Story. One needs only to view the above picture of me, circa 1957, to see shades of Ralphie. Our family did not have a leg lamp, however. To my mother and father's eternal credit. But we were weird in our own way, as are all families.

Christmas 1957. I had it in my head that I wanted a policeman's uniform. I have no idea why, but that's what I wanted. Somehow, my mother found one for me, and I was so excited. When school reopened, I wore it to school. During recess, some kid hurled a snowball at me and knocked my hat off. It was a message, and I never wore it again, at least in public.

Christmas morning was very much the same for many years. Waking our parents up very early, waiting for my father to get his camera ready. We had to wait for the formal pictures of the tree and then the family before we could tear into the presents. Once we did, we would make short order of the pile below the tree.

I'm in the red pajamas - this picture if probably from 1959 or so. My little brother Brian holds the gun - he's a killer until this day and I'm still wary of him when he has a weapon.

I remember lots of train sets - the video games of their time.

Yes, this looks like my family. Once we were six, now we are four.

Thanks to my brother Brian for patiently scanning these old 35mm slides.