The One Where We Had Piles of Snow

My eighteenth birthday - the Seattle area was hit with a snowstorm that week.  It was not very typical for us to miss more than a day or so of school due to snow.  Snow might fall but due to our marine layer, it warms up, turns to rain and we get our "Seattle Cement" (heavy, heavy slush).  I guess a lot of kids would LOVE to have a snow day and no school for their birthday.  But I remember feeling pretty disappointed  not to "get" to go to school on my eighteenth birthday.  It was a Wednesday and at least the second day in a row school was cancelled.  And it just kept coming!  It was beautiful but I wanted to be with my friends.  At the last moment that night, my Dad drove our ginormous red 1967 Chevy Bel-Air and picked up a few of my friends for a slumber party!  I remember sledding at midnight - the snow being perfectly packed.  It was a fun, spur of the moment party and I had a blast.

L-R standing: Karla, Me, Eileen, Suzie. Kneeling L-R Mimi, Heidi and Tina.

The Seattle Times that evening (courtesy Seattle Public Library)


We must have missed several more days of school due to snow and the situation affected my high school's graduation. Our class did not have enough days of attendance to graduate. They let us walk our commencement as previously scheduled but we had to attend a day-long workshop at Bellevue Community College to earn our diploma.

So what I remember about the birthday where I was officially an adult old enough to vote was playing like kids in the snow.

The One Where My Dog Ate The Treat Baskets

I had a dress-up tea party for my ninth birthday.  To this day I remember how amazing I thought Sheila Morrison's dress was!  I'm not even 100% sure that I recall her name correctly or really anything else about her.  But I remember that dress!

Randi(?) also had an awesome hat, wig, "fur" jacket and full skirt ensemble. I'm on the right wearing a glittery gold number.






Tea party!


Little ladies

or not . . .


Twister fun


My dog, Charcoal was a beagle/lab mix (he's in the above photo "little ladies"). I don't recall that we ever really had to worry about him stealing food. However, he decided to sample the treat baskets that my  mom made and set aside on her dresser. It was so disappointing not to have a goodies to send home with my friends. Bad dog!

The One Where Grandma Dropped My Cake

My fourth birthday was a party at my Grandma and Grandpa Johnson's apartment across from Woodland Park Zoo.  It was both sets of grandparents, my parents, my two year old sister and me.  I don't know that I actually remember it happening (but I think I do!) but Grandma Johnson dropped my cake in the kitchen.  My memory is that it was while she was carrying it from the kitchen into the dining room singing but I look at this picture and notice her finger all bandaged up and a towel under her hand like something had just happened so now I don't remember the circumstances.  This is one of those events that she was reminded of for years.  I'm not sure I actually remember the cake-tastrophe or just the reminders she always got.
The missing frosting and decorations are evidence.  I'm sure we ate it. And lived to tell the tale. My sister looks a little concerned.





Grandpa Johnson showing us a Polaroid while we play with "Mr. Potato Head" and "Pete the Pepper"

A new slinky and I see "Cooky the Cucumber" behind me - I really don't have any recollection of Mr. Potato Head's friends!




My sister got a bulldozer! (We always both got a little something on each other's birthday)


New gigantic piggy banks for both of us!




My mom and more Polaroids


Grandpa Hawes


Grandma Hawes blowing out a candle - My Grandparent's wedding anniversary was in January so Grandma Johnson had a cake for them, too!  (I think all the frosting got used on my cake so theirs is a little lacking on the side - I really don't think Grandma Johnson dropped two cakes!)

Grandma and Grandpa Johnson (I wish the exposure was a little better)


Thank you for sharing with me my birthday of yesteryear on my birthday week!

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