This photo is one of my most valuable possessions. If my house was on fire, it would be one of the few things I would worry about saving.
Its a photo of me and my father, Ben Minch, on November 28, 1963. The table is set for Thanksgiving dinner in our dining room in Cranford, NJ, and I was excited because my Aunts, Uncles & cousins were coming for dinner. I was 8 years old.
My father was subdued because JFK had been assassinated less than a week before on Friday, November 22, 1963.
In 1963, the world was rapidly changing. After JFK was asassinated, Lyndon Johnson became President. The US was being sucked further and further into the Vietnam War. Martin Luther King gave his "I Have A Dream" speech and both good and terrible events swirled around the Civil Rights Movement. The Beatles released their first album.
Gas was about 25 cents per gallon, but my father would buy gas at a gas station on the way to New York City that charged 19 cents. A quart of milk was 26 cents. For 50 cents I could go see a double matinee on Saturday afternoon and have enough money for a Milky Way and a popcorn. My hair, which was normally longer, was cut short because someone in the above mentioned movie theater threw a wad of chewing gum in the dark theater which landed in my hair. I had gotten that haircut 2 weeks earlier.
My father was a tool and die maker. On his salary of $4,800/yr. he was able to support his wife and 3 kids and buy a new 3 bedroom house in a nice New Jersey neighborhood. He drove a 1955 pink and gray Chevy Belair.
This is the last photo of my father. Less than a week later, on December 3rd, he was taken to the hospital in an ambulance where he died of a coronary embolism. He was 49.
I still have the camera this photo was taken with, an old Kodak 35mm film camera. It was my father's pride and joy. He was an avid amateur photographer, a love he passed on to me.
This post is written as a submission to the ActiveRain 'Kodak Moments' contest. I have the chance to win the KODAK EASYSHARE M580 Digital Camera.
To participate in the ActiveRain contest, visit the blog post announcing the contest from Kodak and ActiveRain.
My thanks to Kodak and Active Rain for making this contest possible.
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2010 RESA Professional Stager of the Year
Michelle has staged hundreds of Los Angeles homes, many of which have sold with multiple offers, above listing price.
She works with home sellers, listing agents and asset managers to prepare homes for sale throughout Los Angeles.
Moving Mountains Design provides vacant home staging, occupied home staging, color consultations, corporate and executive relocations, move organization, redesign, and interior design. We also stage model homes, REOs,foreclosures and auction properties for real estate investors and asset managers.
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Wow---That is a nice picture of you and your dad in 1963..Thank you for sharing
Fascinating tribute to the time, the photo and your father. Hope you win. Takes pure grit and guts to write something like this.
Beautiful story, photo and memorial. I hope you include this in your "about me" section on your website.
Thanks, John.
Andrew: The 1960's were a fascinating time to have lived through - the world changed so rapidly. It amazes me that my dad was younger than I am now when he passed away. Thank you.
Michelle: I'll have to think about your suggestion. Thank you.
Seems like you grew up at 8. I lost my mother when I was 15. A cherished photo, indeed!
What a wonderful tribute to your Dad, I'm sorry you lost him at such an early age. Isn't it funny how much older our parents seem at our age now. I look at pics of my Mom and Dad and think, when they were my age they already had a grandchild. You seriously still look the same...what's your secret??
Michelle, what a loving memory of your Dad! How wonderful to have a father who loved his family so much. I'm sure you miss him terribly.
Your Dad's penchant for photography has been passed down to you, which is very obvious in your work. He would be very proud of you!
Take care,
Kathie
Carla: Losing a parent at a young age definitely adds challenges to growing up.
Cindy: I have friends my age and younger who have grandchildren. I hardly look the same, but thank you, none-the-less!
Kathleen: Thank you! That's very kind of you to say.
Losing your father when you were so young is a very hard thing. I'm glad that you have this photo to cherish. An excellent entry in the contest. Good luck.
By the way, you don't look like you're 55 years old.
Judi: While I would have much rather not lost my father, it did help make me a very independent person. Thank you...I don't feel like I'm 55 either! Good genes, good diet, lots of exercise and enough sleep help.
What a beautiful, or should I say, touching story, Michelle. Truly a precious, precious photograph and memory. So sad you lost your daddy so young. I know he would be very proud of you.
Beth: I'm glad my story touched you, Beth. I'm sorry he died so young, but life goes on. I've had a very good life and wonderful memories.
What a great picture, Michelle. Can you imagine, supporting a family for $4,800 a year. Wow.
Jane: I find that amazing also. The average salary at that time was a little over $5,000/yr, I think. And for that money you could buy a nice, 3 bedroom, split level house in a good neighborhood. BTW, that house is now valued at $400K+!
I was very young, but I never felt like we were poor, or that anything was missing from my life. Well, that's not entirely true. I never got the pony I wished for on every birthday:o) Simpler times, eh?
Michelle, such a wonderful and touching story. Were you your fathers favorite girl? You look so happy oh that photo. Good luck on the contest.
Anna: Both my sister and I both grew up thinking we were my father's favorite. That's one reason why he was such a great father :o)
What a wonderful Kodak precious moment, memory and dad. Having been born in 1941 I well remember the time frame and exactly where I was and doing when Oswald was killed by Jack Ruby on live TV -- sitting on the couch before going into work and watching it happen still in shock over the Kennedy assassination.
Sue of Robin and Sue
Michelle, what a story. You created a story, which is so much bigger than just the beautiful photo from 1963. You made us for a second to fnd ourselves in 1963.
Thank you, Jon. I didn't want my post to be only about my father's death, but more about his life. 1963 was such an important time historically and socially.
Michelle--The photo tells a story that is touching and powerful. Your smile is enchanting and knowing the story behind the photo makes it memorable. It seems every family has a story from that important day but few were memorialized in a photo...I was only 2 then but my brother was born a week later and was given the middle name John because of JFK.
Teri: It looks like a photo anyone might have in their photo album. Nothing special until you know the story. I'm glad I was old enough to remember what was going on.
Michelle, Thanks so much for sharing this with us. It is so special to have that memory of your dad.
I had an aunt that was born in the late 1800's that lived to be 98. I often think of all that changed in her life time. She rode a horse to a one room school house as a teenager (she was the teacher!) And when she died in 1996 we were hoping that our son would like the computer game we bought him for his birthday!
Wow, Jo, your Aunt had a long and interesting life. I had an Aunt that remembered riding in the buggy to go "courting". She told us some great stories, too.
Just saw this post. Better late than never...so glad I did. Such a poignant one. Such memories in that photo. I lost my dad early also. It was really hard, but I was his favorite, which gave me a boost in life somehow. Here's to great dads! And great photos.
P.S. You were an absolutely stunning little girl. No wonder you grew up to be such a beautiful woman.
Thank you, Pat. You are too kind :o)