Grandma's Photo Journal - Found at Goodwill

I couldn't believe it when I found a small "Photo Journal" at the Goodwill Outlet Store - with pictures still inside!

The photos were taken in the spring and summer of 2006 ...

As the grandkids went about their summertime activities.

Like playing in the pool ...

Those who know me are not surprised that I had to save these wonderful photos, even though I have no idea who these people are, or where they live. I just can't stand seeing these beautiful memories shredded and sent to the dump!

1943 Found Photo

My friend Randy is helping a lady move out of an old farm house. Since he is a truck driver, she asked him to bring a load of garbage to the dump.

After dropping off the load, he looked in the back of the truck and found this photo that had fallen out of one of the bags (the back is stamped "1943").
When I showed it to Dad, he exclaimed "Oh! That looks just like one of the Army barracks I stayed at before I went overseas during WWII!"

He pointed out the bedrolls ("we ALL had to roll them just like that"), and the helmets at the ends of the cots ("where we hung our rucksacks"). He also pointed out the old stove ("boy did that stove pipe get hot") and the cots themselves ("they were the most uncomfortable beds I ever slept on - metal mesh stretched over frames. Sometimes the mesh would break, and you would get poked all night by the sharp ends")

I can't believe someone would throw away this bit of history, but I'm ecstatic that Randy found it and thought of me.

And I am even more in awe of those military veterans who endured so much and gave so much.
Thank you to ALL veterans.
Even though Thank You is not enough ...

Vintage Cigar Bands - Sunday Scans

Each year a small town just to the northwest of us hosts a large "yard" sale in front of their middle school. The object is to raise funds for their high school dance team.

I hadn't thought about the sale in years, but last Saturday I "accidentally" found it while on my way to our family reunion. I just HAD to stop.

One of the small treasures I found was a tiny plastic bag filled with 80+ cigar bands. I was intrigued, and dug to the bottom of my purse (AKA 'the black hole of the universe') to find two quarters.

I took my find home and did some research ... I had no idea there are people who collect cigar bands! And this must have been part of someone's collection - they are all quite old, and some of them have never been used to wrap a cigar!

As with most of my finds, I am intrigued by these beauties. Who used to collect them? Why did they get rid of them? Is this their whole collection or just duplicates?
How did they end up supporting a dance team?

Once again, I will never know. But they are now part of my ephemera collection, and this sampling is this week's addition to Al's "SUNDAY SCANS". If you have scanned something, please share it with us! Al has decided to make this a monthly theme, so you have plenty of time to join us each month!

Western Union - Sunday Scans

I snuck off by myself to Goodwill yesterday - I found a few treasures, but mostly I just had fun.
I was overjoyed to find this wonderful telegram, it sparked my curiosity completely!

Apparently "John" was in Germany when his wife experienced a life altering event, and he was unable to be there.

Did she graduate from college?
Did she have a baby?
I'll probably never know!

I am submitting this wonderfully tantalizing Western Union telegram to Al's "Sunday Scans" - and I encourage everyone to join us - and show us what YOU have scanned!

Another Found Family Photo

I found this adorable picture in the stuff my uncle brought over after Grammie went to heaven. This is my dear darling sister - back in the 1st grade!!! She would have been about 6 years old.
Isn't she cute? I was always jealous of her long flowing hair (still am!), while mine was dry, frizzy and short. Sigh.

And don't you just love the outfit she was wearing?

I missed last week's "Sunday Scans", but now I am back! I am so thankful to Al for hosting this wonderful meme! Like I said last time, it would probably have been years before I looked in the box that held so many wonderful family treasures and photos. Thank you, Al, Thank you!!!

P.S. Al, Sissie Beth's computer up and died, and she wanted you to know she will be back to Sunday Scans as soon as possible!