Valentine

Happy St. Valentine's Day to all my faithful followers! Today's edition of Sepia Saturday concerns itself with this holiday, and so from my personal archives I dredge out these vintage cards which I have managed to hang onto for oh, over fifty years, knowing that someday I would find a use for them. Yes, these are actually leftovers from a batch I sent to my classmates around 1961, when I was in second grade, I think.

And here is the class itself! I suspect that this was one of my earliest attempts at photography, by my absence from the shot, and the tilt and altitude of the camera. I believe that the pensive girl at the center might be Wanda; at her feet is Lane, Preston (whose hair was always well Brilliantined) to his left in the stripes.

Here is another of my askew photos, of our beloved teacher, Mrs. Perry -- Gerry Perry -- Geraldine, that is. She taught me in third grade as well, before retiring. She was funny, kind, and occasionally fierce. I have never had a teacher I was more fond of.  And there is a self-portrait, myself drawing myself. Fidel Castro appears to be watching me, strangely. 

Anyway, on to the valentines... they came in a large booklet, and you carefully tore along the perforations... some, like this one, were their own envelopes.

This one is rather apt for me, isn't it?

Ooh, frilly underwear!

I love the combination of puns and stereotypes. Has anyone every really chewed on a piece of grass like that?

A bit stalker-ish...

I remember practicing telephone etiquette in class with one of these bulky things. We'd bought our house from a telephone company employee, who left Bell swag behind for my sister and me.

The "good old days" when no one worried about racism.

Or sexism.

When in doubt, go for a kitten!

Or a puppy!

Or...a pair of... sea lions. Whatever.

Schoolroom interiors

 The second elementary school in our neighborhood to be torn down in the last ten years.  I took these shots of some of the old classrooms, outer wall sheared off, through hurricane fencing, while fending off a suspicious security guard.

Palimpsest

Container, Tyee Ringdall Middle School, Bellevue WA

Govan #2: Illumination

East of Grand Coulee Dam, Govan is in the dead center of Washington, dead being the operative word. Virtually all that's left is this two-room schoolhouse. I clambered up into it and a huge white barn-owl clattered up to the rafters. The floor was littered with its white and mouse-boney pellets. Through the missing shingles, brilliant sunlight cut through the dusty air.

Construction, Deconstruction

The local school building is once again in transition.


Out with the old concrete blocks, in with the new.



Mattresses? We don't need no steenkin' mattresses.



You can never have enough hurricane fencing.

The Odd Ones

Shuttered Bellevue Goodyear shop



Shuttered Copalis elementary school



Backstage at the Newcastle Safeway

Taking Care of Business

Ramping up for a new school year...


Queuing up, check. Oh no, look who I've got for fifth period!




Filling out the paperwork, check. Mom, PLEASE don't sign up for lunchroom supervisor.



Greeting your friends, check. Hey, I didn't know we were supposed to all wear shorts today.



!Avoid the library if you love your! !gum!