photos

Flashback Friday

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CHRIS!

The flashback photo for today is of my parents and my older sister, Chris. Tomorrow is Chris’ birthday, and it seemed fitting to offer a few thoughts on the woman who has been there every single day of my life! Despite all the years of arguing to the contrary, I have to admit it is no easy task to be the first-born child – especially if you are lucky enough to have a gaggle of younger siblings. Chris took her role as eldest seriously, caring for us, teaching us, scolding us, and loving us. And she continues to be there for us. When my niece, Zoe was born with some complications, who did my youngest brother Matt turn to for advice? When I just want to hear the voice of someone who will help me feel “normal” (whether I am sick or just tired), Chris is the person I call.

I love this particular photo of Chris, face squeezed between our parents, looking a little unsure about whether this is a good thing. Its a look I’ve seen on her face throughout our lives – she for sure has an idea how this photo could be better, she’s just too young to direct it! And even though we all tease her mercilessly about her need to control situations, we would, in truth, be lost without her planning and problem-solving skills. At the graduation of one of my nephews, a woman from Chris’ church said, “So, you’re Jeni! Wow, I bet it was tough for you growing up with Chris! She must have been a little on the bossy side!”  Wow, someone was finally affirming my childhood pain. But as I looked around me, at the joy and pleasure on the faces of my sister’s friends and family, at the smoothly run reception which allowed everyone to be relaxed and celebrate the occasion, I found myself irritated that this woman had the gall to criticize my sister. I told her, “Shut up and mind your own beeswax!” Not really. But I told her the truth, that I was thankful for every minute of it!

Flashback Friday (a day late)

In this photo: (back: Jeff, Marsha, Jack; middle: Shirley, me; front: Rachel, Myka)

Unfortunately, I don’t have any of the photos from Rachel’s youngest days scanned onto my computer, however, you can still see what a sweet little girl she was in this one! Today, I’m heading up to Cedar Falls to attend Rachel’s high school graduation party. I can’t believe its here already. Rachel is still one of the sweetest young people I know, and funny, patient, kind…really amazed by the person she is becoming!

HAPPY GRADUATION, RAE!

Flashback Friday

On May 17, 1984, four buildings at Clarke College (now Clarke University) burned in a disastrous fire. The buildings lost included the beloved Sacred Heart Chapel, which was the symbol of the college. Students put up the sign, above, the following day. What you cannot see in my version of this iconic photo is that, just above the arched doorway, stood the charred remains of the two floors of this building obliterated in the fire. Catherine Dunn, BVM had been president of the college for 11 days when the fire occurred. The college library, which had been housed beneath the chapel, sustained smoke and water damage. Along with many students, local residents, and other alums, I took part in the effort to salvage as many books as possible from the remains of the library building.
I LOVED Clarke, and being a “Clarkie”/”Woman Aware”. Never more so than when I saw how students, faculty, staff and alumni pulled together into one community after the fire. I like the new buildings the college built to replace those lost, including its glass atrium, the new symbol of Clarke. However, every time I pass the campus, I still miss the old center of campus, and the chapel spires.

Flashback Friday

Hanson Family Portrait circa 1970

Front row: Anne, Jeff, Gwen, Jeni, Chris

Back row: Jackson, Matt, Shirley

One of the reasons that I love this photo is it illustrates what the following statement really means:  6 kids in 9 years. Chris was born in June 1960 and Matt in July 1969. My mother was alone with the six of us much of the time, and I can only say (with the benefit of hindsight) how grateful I am not only for everything she DID, but also for all the things she didn’t do — like lose her sanity (held on with her fingernails a few times!), take up child abuse, put us up for adoption when we got mouthy…

Happy Mother’s Day to the woman who taught my siblings, by example, how to be such great parents!

Flashback Friday

Happy Easter!

In this photo, my Mother attempts to corral the “originals”: Chris, Jeff, Gwen (back to camera), and me.  I’m in some world other than the one in which my picture is being taken! In fact, one of the things I love about this photo is that not a single one of us is paying any attention to my father as he attempts to take it. We are all in our Easter finery, Jeff looks especially dapper, but our attention spans are not boding well for Easter Mass, which I am certain is where we were headed!

Flashback Friday

Obviously, the 1980s. Christmas.

Left to right: My sister Annie, my cousin Sarah, me, my cousin Stephanie, my sister Gwen. The odd passerby in the background, my brother, Matt.

I’ve been thinking about the 80s quite a bit recently. For one, when Anne and I had dinner together on Saturday, she told me about her recent experience working on the Oprah “Rock Divas of the 80s” episode starring Stevie Nicks, Pat Benatar, Joan Jett and Sisters Sledge. Quite a line-up!

From both the hair and clothing, I can tell that this photo, taken in my parents’ home, was snapped during the latter half of the decade, when four of the Hanson siblings lived in Iowa City (for a brief time) at the same time. And yes, that is a cigarette in my hand — proof positive that it is possible to quit, since I would venture a guess that many of you didn’t know I was ever a smoker!

Flashback Friday

In this photo:  Jeff and Gwen

There were a couple of times each year all six children were dressed up and forced to pose for photos: Christmas and, as above, Easter.  Both Jeff and Wendy are dressed in their Easter finery (I am certain Wendy’s dress was made by my mother, Shirley). I know it is a holiday because, in addition to the clothes, Wendy’s hair has been pin-curled.  These details are all part of the charm of this photo for me. However, it must be clear to everyone looking at the picture, that the real reason I love it is the look of mutual adoration being shared between these two. Jeff is the protective and loving big brother to Wendy’s trusting little sister. Regardless of any changes their relationship may have undergone as the years passed, there can be no doubt that they loved each other!

Flashback Friday

Remember that fresh-scrubbed, pj’ed-up, ready for bed feeling? The three happy children above: Me, in the festive clown pajamas; Jeff, the pensive child in the middle attempting to figure out how his new toy works; Chris on the right with the dazzling smile.

The six children in our family have been divided into two groups for most of our lives: the big kids (above) and the little kids (Gwen, Anne, Matt). Never mind that the baby is over 40 now, we maintain the groupings as verbal shorthand. We were reminiscing a couple of years ago, and one of my parents, instead of calling the three oldest the “big kids”, accidentally called us “the originals”. You can imagine the uproar that caused!

On a completely different note, I still love getting ready for bed and putting on my jammies. Visiting a friend last fall, I went into the bathroom to wash up and change. When I came out, my friend said, “Don’t you look festive!”  I used that word to describe my childhood circus clown p.j.s, and I would like to note that its a great word for a three year old clown. In my current stage of life, let’s just say I’ve decided that particular pair of p.j.s will now be reserved for home, not travel!