ECF…
…the one with all the history. ;o)
Yesterday, my good friend Carole outed me as a former Civil War reenactor. For this week’s Eye Candy Friday post, I thought I’d share the proof that I was sucked in at a very young age:
That’s my Mom and Dad – the bundle that my Dad is holding is me. This photo was taken on August 19, 1972, the day of my baptism. My mom was 19 and my dad 21 (almost 22) at the time of this photo – the lady standing to the left of my Mom is my Aunt Carol and the lady next to her is a family friend, Rhoda. I love the juxtaposition of modern/historic in this picture. If Aunt Carol weren’t standing there you would never know this was taken in 1972 (other than the whole ‘color photography not invented at the time’ thing). ;o) One other thing, while cleaning up the photo I noticed what I thought was a speck of dust on Dad’s mouth until I remembered – Dad had a gold tooth when I was little. That’s right, my Dad had bling before bling was cool. ;o) (he doesn’t have it anymore, it kind of doesn’t fit in with his mortician ‘image’ – though in the photo it looks like he’s practicing for his future career, doesn’t it?)
To celebrate my baptism/birth, my Dad had all his reenactor buddies come up to the farm to pretend to shoot at each other – I think someone brought a cannon, too. There was, from what I’m told, much running amok that weekend. It was covered by the local newspaper and there’s a clipping in a box in the attic somewhere with a picture of my Dad and my Uncle Rick (no relation, just a good friend) dressed up, standing in the cornfield and smiling at the camera. Good times. (at least, that’s what I was told, I don’t remember a thing…)
I remember several parades where I was forced to wear bloomers (HATED. THEM.) because I wasn’t old enough to wear a skirt yet. I was so excited and happy to go to Gettysburg with my Dad because my Mom let me borrow her clothes for the week which meant I got to wear the hoops. I spent four days sweating to death for the 125th anniversary of the battle but it’s one of my best memories, ever. Once you’ve seen 60,000 men encamped, you don’t forget it easily.
Carole, thanks for the reminder of the fun I’ve had reenacting. I miss it – got a set of hoops I can borrow? ;o)
ETA: A heads-up for those who have shown interest in a Circular Sock Machine of their own, my friend Karen is selling hers. ;o)
27 Responses to “ECF…”
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That picture is just precious. When I was little I probably would have killed to get into those awesome costumes!
stephanie’s last blog post..Update on Lesly’s Roof Project
That picture is fabulous. Love the reenactor lighting the cigarette and the modern chairs, too. Funny! And yeah, I’ve got hoops. You can wear them anytime!
Carole’s last blog post..Eye Candy Friday
Very cool! I love the photo. I am glad that you told us that it was a party for your baptism/birth because I was wondering what you Aunt Carol’s outfit had to do with the re-enactment. :O)
thanks for sharing
Heather @Domestic Extraordinaire’s last blog post..Wordless Wednesday-The ‘I do’ edition
I thought it was a colorized vintage picture at first!
Jess, what a great photo! Love it.
And, wow, you look a lot like your Mom…
–Deb’s last blog post..Tulips
Pretty darn amazing! I would think I was seeing a ghost if I had encountered your father then.
You know, I probably have a set of hoops for you. We’ve also got some events that are not too far from where you live. And I think that RR would love to be an artillerist. You can always fall in with us, you know.
Great picture!
Betty’s last blog post..Eye Candy Friday — Cute Baby Animals
That is a great photo! You really do look like your mom.
Karen’s last blog post..Antique Sock Machines For Sale
Very cool!!!
What a cool & wonderful photo. Your parents look like they are straight out of the 1800s. Aunt Rhoda (aka Aunt Ron?)up in the corner cracks me up. I thought, hey, how did the caucasian Ru Paul end up at a Civil War reenactment?
As a kid I so wanted to wear hoop skirts. The closest I got was a calico Little House on the Prairie dress my mom sewed.
Kim’s last blog post..Vatican Pie for Easter
How cool is that?!? Love the photo, and yes… Auntie Carol’s attire but also that lawn chair? hee.
So… my oldest son was born in Jan.’72 which means I can say “I’m old enough to be your mother”… crazy fun.
Here’s to a great weekend!
You sister looks so much like your mother, and you do too, but I think you have a bit more of your dad in there. I love the photo, and that you had this kind of introduction into life. You and Amy will have a lot to talk about at WOOL, she’s just getting into Civil War reenacting and is all fired up.
Tina M.’s last blog post..Smells Like Smiles
That is such a great picture. I love your aunt’s outfit and that lawn chair. The chair really sends me back. So weird.
Hillary’s last blog post..ECF – Pending Peony Edition
What a cool photo. You look like you’re having a good time, sure.
Big Alice’s last blog post..Plant shows: feeding my bad habits since 2001
Totally love Aunt Carole’s pant suit! Lust….after that sock machine too. Darn not being paid!
michelle’s last blog post..Fresh Start
My dad used to belong to a Civil War reenacting group, he’s got the uniform, equipment, guns…no cannon, though. Before he retired, he taught fifth grade and every spring, he took his class to Gettysburg and they would reenact Pickett’s Charge. He still goes back to school to help out with that lesson and now he goes to Gettysburg as a chaperone. :)
And boy, you look just a wee little bit like your mom. ;)
Jenn’s last blog post..Daisy with actual daisies
At the time we belonged to Sherman’s Bummers & 1st Virginia reenactment groups. The first Authentics. We wore origional uniforms and equipment or copies that we had made. This is when everyone else wore blue jeans and Sears work shirts. We where the coiners of the word FARB or Farbie which is universally used today by reenactors and means non-authentic. They hated us. Maybe it was the full bore bayonet charges or maybe it was the police escort out of town Sunday afternoon? Yes Jess, there was a canon at your christening. And we almost blew away a police cruiser when someone complained about the noise of the canon shot taking out trees.
With a little cropping and some sepia tones this could almost pass for an authentic picture. I don’t think your mom could have posed with her hand aloft long enough for photography back then. What a wonderful picture and history to share with us. Do you have any bloomer pictures?
Heide’s last blog post..Neurosis
That is very cool – I agree with Heide about the photoshopping you back to the 1800s!
heather’s last blog post..Signs of Spring
Wow! What a terrific picture (& story too)!
ragan’s last blog post..*under construction*
what a fantastic photo! it took me a bit before i realized that picture really was taken in the past century. :D
Opal’s last blog post..ECF: Coils and Swirls
That is the most amazing photograph…that lawnchair is just perfect in there. Thanks for sharing!!
karin maag-tanchak’s last blog post..Earth Day!
I was thinking gee, you do look young and then I read that you are the white blob on your Dad’s lap! LOL (You do look like your mum. Sorry.)
We don’t have Civil War Reenactment, obviously, but we do have SCA and gosh I looked lovely in a maunch-sleeved frock! Plus we danced and we sang madrigals and ate (and avoided the politicking).
Sounds like you used to have fun :-)
lynne s of oz’s last blog post..ANZAC Day
What a wonderful photo.
angie’s last blog post..the weekend
We have your dad to blame for the term farbie? Good to know! LOL
Carole’s last blog post..Eye Candy Friday
Love it!
If it wasn’t for your Aunt Carol and that chair, I would have been fooled into thinking it was a hand tinted photo from back in the day.
You MUST borrow hoops from our Carole!
Cookie’s last blog post..If anyone asks, y’all have not seen these socks.
Great story and photo! They look SO young.
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