We're two sisters who are craft book publishers and found ourselves in the midst of an avocado grove. We bought this house where we planned to conduct our publishing business and in the deal got 4 acres of avocado trees thrown in. Now we're not only publishers but ranchers as well! This blog is all about avocados and anything else that strikes my fancy.

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Sepia Saturday #159 Was My Mom Nuts???

When I saw the prompt for this week of a woman sitting on the beach, I thought of some photos in our old album which led me to believe that my mother was kind of nuts. Or else she was just very trusting. Or she just knew my dad too well. Anyway, what leads me to these questions, is why on earth would my mother hire the girl below to be our babysitter?


This is Ann. She was probably about 17 or 18 at the time and lived down the street from us in Chicago. She was the babysitter for my sister, brother and I. At the time I didn't think anything about having a gorgeous babysitter like this. Did my mother? Wasn't she afraid that my dad might be only too happy to give her a ride home when her duties were finished, even though she only lived about a block away?  And maybe never return?

Did my mother ever see this picture of Ann?


This girl was flexible? She had a gorgeous body and was beautiful. I remember at the time thinking she was the most beautiful person I had ever seen. She looked a lot like Ava Gardner. And not only was she pretty, she was a great babysitter. She was fun, patient, kind, never tiring. We loved Ann.

But was my mother afraid that my father might love Ann, too. Probably not. My dad was an engineer after all. He was kind of oblivious to things around him. And he really loved and admired my mom. 
Here they are looking happy. He would never stray.


And my mom was attractive. So, of course, he would never look at another woman.
Or would he?

I found this other photo of my mom and dad (the two on the left at back) at a party. He's suspiciously eyeing that blond sitting in front. mmmmm.  Well, maybe he was just your normal kind of guy. He could look, couldn't he? Especially when she's wearing that dress with her shoulder all exposed.


As far as I know, he only looked. My mother was never jealous (not that I know of anyway).

We lost our babysitter, Ann. She got married to Lou and moved away. We were all sad to see her go. It was a lovely wedding.

And I was honored and fortunate to be one of the two flower girls.

That's me on the right. I'll forever be kidded about my performance at the wedding. It was a very long catholic high mass wedding. At one point in the ceremony I went up to Ann (she was my babysitter, afterall) and tugged on her dress and told her I had to go to the bathroom. She very quietly and patiently guided me back to my place and said "not now, a little later".

I went to Ann and Lou's 50th wedding anniversary. They had moved from Chicago to California (just like our family had). The story of my wedding "faux pas" was told again and again to my embarrasment.

I get a Christmas card from Ann every year. She and Lou are still married and she still has that wonderful personality that we loved her for when she was our babysitter. My mom is gone now. I wish she were here so I could ask how on earth she could have hired such a gorgeous girl to be our babysitter. Was she ever worried about our dad being tempted?

There are lots of other beach related stories you might enjoy. Click here Sepia Saturday.

26 comments:

  1. Love the story that goes with the post...Jan from Jan's Place..and your newest follower..come visit me too!

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  2. Was it a requirement that babysitters be able to do the backbend? Every teenage girl I ever knew growing up could do it, but not me! The most fascinating part of this story is that you have remained in contact for all these years. What an accomplishment. It must be a record!

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  3. Amazing that you are still in touch with your beautiful babysitter of so long ago. This post is so interesting and funny, just like you. Too bad the other SS people don't get a chance to hear your other great stories in person too, like I do. Once again, I'm in awe that you're able to find just the right photos for your story.

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  4. Amazing that you are still in touch with your beautiful babysitter of so long ago. This post is so interesting and funny, just like you. Too bad the other SS people don't get a chance to hear your other great stories in person too, like I do. Once again, I'm in awe that you're able to find just the right photos for your story.

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  5. Amazing that you are still in touch with your beautiful babysitter of so long ago. This post is so interesting and funny, just like you. Too bad the other SS people don't get a chance to hear your other great stories in person too, like I do. Once again, I'm in awe that you're able to find just the right photos for your story.

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  6. This was fun, and it is a good question, but no way, you sure can tell your parents were a great couple! But what a fun babysitter to have! You look so cute as a flower girl! It must have been a nice wedding!

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  7. Love your fun title and the story that went along with the lovely photographs.

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  8. No, your Mom just trusted your Dad and the trust was rewarded. How lucky to have such a kind and tolerant (as well as pretty) babysitter, who remains a friend.

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  9. What lovely photographs - and what a story. It almost makes me want children again in order to search out this particular baby-sitter. Almost - but not quite.

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    1. What a funny comment. Really made me laugh out loud.
      Nancy

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  10. Like the old Pantene commercial went, "Don't hate me because I am beautiful." Ann sure was, and it sounds like she still is, on the inside as well as on the outside.

    What a great story, Nancy. I loved this post.

    Kathy M.

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  11. Were the bathing suit pictures ones that your family took of Ann? This was a fun story with great pictures. Like others have commented - it is wonderful that you have kept up with An after all these years.

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    1. Hi Kathy,
      I'm not sure who took the photos. I think it was my mom. She and Ann used to pal around a bit and I can imagine that maybe we all went to the beach together. And how else who they turn up in our family albums? Wish I knew for sure.
      Nancy

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  12. I just hope that Ann gets to read this tribute to her. I'm sure it will make her laugh. Great story

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    1. I'm not sure if Ann has email, but I'll try to find out. If she doesn't I'll send her a copy. I do have her street address.
      I'm just not sure if she will realize that I was just kidding about my father. Will she be offended? I guess I'll find out.
      Nancy

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  13. A wonderful story to go with this sequence of pictures. It looks to me as though your Dad just got caught with his eyes blinking by the cameraman, rather than looking downwards.

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    1. You may be right about his blinking because of the flash, but why is no one else blinking? I'm still dubious.
      Nancy

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  14. Well, you see that your Dad was a trustworthy man! And I agree with Brett on his blinking eyes. So my conclusion is that your Mum wasn't nuts at all. To the contrary, she apparently knew your Dad very well. I think it is quite something that you are still in contact with your babysit. Did you ever tell her about your thoughts?

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    1. No I never told her. But as I told Bob, I'm going to send her a copy of this blog. Wonder what she will think.
      Nancy

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  15. what amazing memories and what a great reminder of how marriages could trust then as many don't feel they can now.

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  16. Sounds like Ann is one of those rare roses that continues to bloom bringing pleasure to all. Hard to find people like that. The sort of person everyone likes.

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  17. OMG Nancy; you are such a hoot! Please read this: http://poetikat-km.blogspot.ca/2009/06/wedding-daze.html

    As someone with a Catholic wedding-story, I'm sure you will relate.

    Your speculation about your babysitter will have me laughing all day.

    Kat

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  18. I am wondering why you are wondering about your mother...

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    1. I don't think I ever wondered much about my mom and dad when I was growing up. I pretty much took their relationship for granted.
      But when I found that photo of our babysitter - it got me to wondering. As I said, I wish she was here now so I could ask her about it.

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  19. What a funny story. I don't think I ever heard about your beautiful babysitter. I think Grandma maybe was a little nuts. Just kidding. ;)

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