52 Ancestors Week 2: Favorite Family Photo

 

From Amy Johnson Crow: This week’s theme is “Favorite Family Photo.”  What is the story behind it??

I am going to be straight up honest with you right from the start:  I do not have a favorite family photo. 

There are way too many memories forever documented in photographs for me to ever pick just one favorite.  I could pick childhood photos, family reunion photos, my wedding photo, photos of adventures and boon doggles with my son, or my many road trips in and around Appalachia with my husband.  I could also pick a photo from the bazillion pet photos that I have.  🐾

So, why did I finally decide on this one photo?  Truthfully, it is probably the only time that myself and my two brothers actually, somewhat, got along.  And, it gives me an opportunity to truly document my Dad's dedication to make sure his family had a family vacation once a year.  Something he never had until he married.

My Dad was a policeman for Prince George's County, Maryland.  He would work, part time, as a security guard, in his PG County uniform which was allowed at the time, for extra vacation money.  It was actually a really dangerous job because it was at a drug store in a seriously bad part of a city.  He would save all the money earned from that part time job to afford a trip to Walt Disney World and Daytona Beach.

I have very few early memories of my parents being together and in our home because they divorced when I was in kindergarten.  This picture along with home movies that were converted to VHS are all I have to spark the memories.

This picture was the last of the Craig Family Florida Vacations.

This picture was in Daytona Beach, Florida.  We kids had our own room and, wow, were we brats.  There was nothing more fascinating than that ice machine down the hall.  I think we emptied it, at least, three times a day.  We were also in the pool, terrorizing the others with screams and belly flops, as much as our parents would let us.  I won't mention the infamous Putt Putt Golf incident that to this day our parents still don't know about. 

My brothers would go deep sea fishing during the day.  My Mom and I would go shopping at those old style boutique stores that sold dresses and accessories but has now given way to air brushed tshirts and dive bars.  

My brothers hated having a little sister.  Tim, would tell everyone, before I was born, that if I was a girl, he is throwing me down the stairs.  🤣    They wanted a rough and tumble brother that played with matchbox cars and could pitch an incredible fast ball on their boys and girls club baseball team.  Not a prissy little sister who buried their match box cars in the yard because they wouldn't let me play with them. 

While we get along, now, that vacation, we were all simpatico:  crazy kids running around and high on sugar and Mickey Mouse.  It would take another 30 years before we became truly simpatico again.

My brothers - Tim and Steve

Bowie, Maryland - 2015

We used to drive to Florida in the old family station wagon until my Mom demanded we fly.  As an extremely young girl, I was already addicted to travel the first time I stepped onto an Eastern Airlines airplane.

.....but when we drove to Florida, it always included a stop at South of the Border.  The most fascinating place for kids.  Stores and stores and stores of junk toys begging to be purchased.

Learn about my brother Tim and more of his adventures and see if you are related or connected to him by visiting his profile at WikiTree.com.