Art and I became engaged on New Year's Eve, 1972. We went to the Big Island so I could meet his parents and they could see who their son was bringing into the family.
You couldn't help but to love them right away. They welcomed me into the family right from the start and I felt easily at home. It was the first time I'd traveled to the Big Island and I was shocked at how cold it could get there.
Soon Art's mom changed my name from Kay to Kay Dear. I think a lot had to do with the fact that Art's sister is also named Kay. She was Kay Ann and we still can't figure out why because that's not her middle name.
After we were married my parents took a trip to Honokaa so everybody could meet. My mom felt it was very important that everybody should be a connected family. Art's mom wasn't able to attend our wedding since she was confined to a wheelchair which made travel difficult at the time.
This scanned slide photo brought it all back for me. We captured that first meeting of the moms.
Art's mom is to the left and mine is to the right. My mom was only 44 at the time. Art's mom was 57. We were very lucky that everybody was so happy about our marriage.
Art's mom was able to write fluently in English and Japanese. She kept up a steady correspondence with us throughout her life in English and also wrote to my mother in Japanese. My mother was always touched and impressed by her beautiful letters. Art's dad was still working at the restaurant and managing the theater so he was busy until he retired. Sadly, he passed away just a few months after his retirement.
Although it's been a chore to scan the photos and slides, it really is worth it. I am discovering a lifetime of bloggable photos and a legacy of memories to pass down to our children.
You couldn't help but to love them right away. They welcomed me into the family right from the start and I felt easily at home. It was the first time I'd traveled to the Big Island and I was shocked at how cold it could get there.
Soon Art's mom changed my name from Kay to Kay Dear. I think a lot had to do with the fact that Art's sister is also named Kay. She was Kay Ann and we still can't figure out why because that's not her middle name.
After we were married my parents took a trip to Honokaa so everybody could meet. My mom felt it was very important that everybody should be a connected family. Art's mom wasn't able to attend our wedding since she was confined to a wheelchair which made travel difficult at the time.
This scanned slide photo brought it all back for me. We captured that first meeting of the moms.
Art's mom is to the left and mine is to the right. My mom was only 44 at the time. Art's mom was 57. We were very lucky that everybody was so happy about our marriage.
Art's mom was able to write fluently in English and Japanese. She kept up a steady correspondence with us throughout her life in English and also wrote to my mother in Japanese. My mother was always touched and impressed by her beautiful letters. Art's dad was still working at the restaurant and managing the theater so he was busy until he retired. Sadly, he passed away just a few months after his retirement.
Although it's been a chore to scan the photos and slides, it really is worth it. I am discovering a lifetime of bloggable photos and a legacy of memories to pass down to our children.
Both mothers could never have hoped for anything better than the match of Kay + Art.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful picture and story.
It sounds like a great project and one I always wanted to do. I can't settle on the right piece of equipment to digitize photos and slides. What scanner did you select?
ReplyDeleteHello RJ,
DeleteHere's the post I did about the scanner:
http://travelerswife.blogspot.com/2012/08/scanning-slides.html
I also wrote another one when I first got it:
http://travelerswife.blogspot.com/2010/01/my-new-toy.html
It's an Epson V500. It's working well for us, but I'm wondering if they've upgraded the machine and are making a better one.
such lovely memories to have ,
ReplyDeletewhat a loving tribute!
ReplyDeleteLovely memories...
ReplyDeleteA good person(s)begin with a good family.
It starts with Mom and Dad.
Thank you for sharing.
Mary L
You might be one of the first people to have a blog memoir! You certainly have wonderful memories Kay. I should start looking through my old snapshots, most of them seem to be crammed into a big plastic tub somewhere. At least I moved them out of the basement as I heard that's not a good place for them.
ReplyDeleteArt looks a lot like his mom. What a wonderful picture! I have slides that I should scan, but it seems like such a huge job. You are making me feel it's something I should do :-)
ReplyDeleteYes, Art does resemble his mother more than his father. This is actually not a good photo of his mother at all. She was a really beautiful woman.
DeleteYou have a wonderful set of slides and a nice story every time. I love this story about your Mom and Art's Mom.
ReplyDeleteI have been plowing through my slides now that the scanner is working well. I have yet to go through my photos.
I thought about pulling out the photos I took when the Apollo 11 crew was brought to Bravo Pier in Honolulu after their re-entry. I have photos of the Hornet and the crew of Apollo 11 waving from that trailer they confined them to. I bet you saw that re-entry too. I think it was 1968 or 1969. Dianne
Yae! I'm so glad the scanner is doing well now. I could tell from the gorgeous photos you've been posting.
DeleteYes, I do recall seeing the re-entry on TV, but I didn't remember them coming to Honolulu.
I am so excited..My Dad a found boxes of photos of my childhood..I can't wait to get to them..Michelle
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh! That is just so cool! I'm so happy for you.
DeleteVery lovely picture and post of the Moms, one of many "10s" in your "blog memoir".
ReplyDeleteI've been thinking...don't mind my armchair Myer Briggs analysis...but as a solid introverted "feeler" (I'm guessing you're F not T) because you have kept a journal throughout much of your life and lots of photos (the written word and the computer is definitely an introvert's world); both serve to keep that rich inner feeling experience alive and by reaching out making good friendships that feeling can be expanded. I don't make it a practice to analyze everyone, just that by comparison I've been feeling disappointed in myself for not doing even a fraction of what you do. Part of the reason I self studied MB was to help myself feel less inadequate about not being human enough sometimes lol
L. from W.
I did the Myers/Briggs test. I was definitely an Introvert. I'm sure I'd be the Feeling person instead of the Thinking person. Art would attest to that.
DeleteI often smilingly interpret my own INFP result as standing for "I never find perfection" or "I never fail to procrastinate."
DeleteThis photo is truly a treasure. I love the look they both have on their faces. I guess I would characterize it as graciousness. They both are gracious women. I long for the time when things were so much more civil and when children married the parents also became connected. It seems that seldom happens these days.
ReplyDeleteLove the photo of your two mothers. And I love that Art's sister is also Kay, so you became Kay Dear! That is wonderful in itself.
ReplyDeleteWith Love from your BLOGGING FRIEND, KAY!
Your mother was quite beautiful back then. How young she looked! And she has aged very well. I am glad both mothers met.
ReplyDeleteAll this technological savoir faire is great and very enjjoyable. HOWEVER, it is my humble opinion that ultimately the very best format will be a---ta da!---BOOK, a book using archival quality paper that will last for centuries. This book would skim off all the cream with a lot of editing and make a marvellous gift to your family in the future. HENRY HANK CHAPIN
ReplyDeleteOh Dear, Kay, I wonder if I should be scanning more old photos? You seem to have been doing this forever! I certainly is giving you plenty of blog stories.
ReplyDeleteI wonder too about your father. I sense that there is unhappiness is that subject, because I have never seen you refer to him. Is there a story about him you can share?
All the scanning is bringing up stories of Art's earlier life before I knew him which is quite interesting. He's surprising himself to see all that he'd done.
ReplyDeleteJon & Tiff will no doubt cherish these posts as they share them with your grandchildren...
ReplyDeleteAloha from Honolulu
Comfort Spiral
=^..^=
As a matter of fact, Jon wrote me today saying he was especially liking the posts with photos from our past. He didn't even realize his grandmothers had met.
DeleteWhat a wonderful photo this is Kay, and I enjoyed reading about that very happy time in your lives. As I'm finding myself, going through all the old photos brings back very treasured memories.
ReplyDeleteKay: The old photos do trigger scads of memories; perhaps not accurate, as Holly and I have different recalls about events, but memories nonetheless. I've loved poring through Mom's photo albums and Dad's photo albums (kept before they met), and then the albums marking or measuring our lives, and events, and get-togethers. One thing I notice is that in the "old days", we weren't as focused on photographing the FOOD. And I always love seeing the hairstyles and clothing!
ReplyDeleteHi Lorna! Now that's true about the food. We are more interested in food these days. I don't know if that's good or bad. I'm glad Holly is going to start scanning photos. She should also add information in the properties of each photo so that your children will know what the photo represents. Thank you so much for your comment. It's wonderful to hear from you!
DeleteI loved the parents of my first husband but did not love the husband after nine years.
ReplyDelete