Early Marriage | Part 25
by Elouise
Through the Looking-Glass, Cambridge 1969
I’ve been dreading this post. That’s partly because I’m looking back at old photos from 1965 to 1969. Not wanting to leave them or their memories behind. So I’ve decided this won’t be the last Early Marriage post. It will be the next-to-the last, with a few more photos!
Early marriage and motherhood were magical. Yes, there were unexpected, often distressing ups and downs. Yet I was surrounded by people I trusted, and felt reasonably capable of being a mother without becoming overwhelmed.
Not that everyone and everything was perfect. It wasn’t. Still, I was glad to be married, redirecting my energy toward at least part of my new family of choice. I was also relieved that, on the whole, I’d managed to get through all those first-time-I-ever-did-that experiences. It was like hitting the jackpot several times–once and done.
Not that the rest of my life has been a downer. It hasn’t been. In fact, sometimes it had more drama and excitement than I wished for. But for me, getting through all those first things was an accomplishment in itself. It gave me confidence that we would be able to do this marriage and parenthood thing together–D and I.
I wish I could report that everything we worked on in our relationship was successful. I cannot. Between us, we carried a lot of unfinished business when we moved on to the next chapter of our life together. But that’s for another post and the next series.
For this post, I’ve chosen several old photos I especially enjoy. They convey hope for the future, beginning with the photo of our son at the top of this post. They aren’t picture perfect. They do, however, capture the beauty, tenderness and craziness of life during early marriage.
First, a couple of shots taken in and around Boston. No other city has offered us views of autumn wealth such as these.
Upscale Bird Castle in Cambridge, price unlisted
Pick a pumpkin–any pumpkin! Cambridge 1966
Fall in November, Cambridge 1966
Fall leaves along a road near Cambridge, Nov 1966
Finally, several photos that show our ability to have fun and fly by the seat of our pants!
D in the Stocks! Somewhere near Cambridge, 1967
Out for a day at the park, Cambridge 1968
A little incentive goes a long way, or Spider Walk 1968. Note the vaccination!
Taking off for a first walk! Fall/Winter 1968-69
Trip to the beach with our favorite son and beach towels – 1969
Bidding you all a fond farewell for now!
Elouise
© Elouise Renich Fraser, 22 July 2015
Photo credit: Elouise (two pictures of D, and trip to the beach); DAFraser (all others)
Telling the Truth 
I adore old photos….memories captured and a dying art these days with so much digital…..autumn 69….I would have been almost two….Hmmmm….if we could go back and be children again, knowing all we now know, would we do anything differently? Have an amazing day😊K
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I so agree with you! I’m surprised how much more evocative these are than all the video clips that sometimes inundate us. There’s something wonderful about having a steady but not overflowing stream of slides and photos from which to select and remember what was once so vivid. I’ve often wondered the same about going back. I’d like to think I’d have been a very different child–but then again…. Thanks, Kim! (I’ll keep your almost age a secret.:))
Elouise
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Ha, I know how old I am and I believe you are as young as you believe, therefor I am twenty again…but back then I couldn’t make up my mind so maybe 21? The body may speak differently but I tell it to hush and I run and play in the rain regardless….and sometimes I even blow bubbles out of my turtle (a bubble holder). Thanks Elouise 🙂
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You’re welcome! 🙂
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Your pics always make me smile. 🙂
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What a wonderful comment! Thanks, Kev!
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“my new family of choice”. Wow. Now that is some statement!!!.
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Those words just came popping out of my fingers! I decided to leave them there. Some choices belong to me; others don’t. Being born wasn’t my choice. But choosing to marry introduces a choice–primarily about my husband, and also in my case about children. Then there’s a saying I’ve heard and find true to a point. We don’t just marry a partner. We marry the partner’s family. Also for better and for worse–to a point. I’ve had a wonderful experience with D’s family. I haven’t renounced my family of origin. I still live with and love them, for better and for worse–though not with the primary allegiance I have for my husband and our children. Getting married used to seem so simple….
Elouise
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