1997 Second Half

by Bill Duncanin Familyon Posted on

For the sake of balancing the number of photos, the First Half of 1997 post goes through July and we pick up here with August.

We began August with a little pool party with Kristen and Sara (and Joe) in our erstwhile pool in our backyard.

August 9, 1997: Sara and Allie having some fun in pool. Kristen not so much.

Allie video, August 9, 1997, Girls in pool (4:36).
Everyone in the pool, then Kristen melts down.

August 9, 1997: Sara’s out, Kristen’s in. Allie sucking on a paintbrush.

Allie video, August 9, 1997, Girls in pool (6:36).
Kristen and Allie in the pool, Sara settles down with Joe.

The next day, at dinner time, we engage in a little mutual battle of wills over having some more hot dog or milk vs. Allie’s desire to watch Barney or Pooh, as best we can tell.

August 10, 1997: Won’t you have some hot dog or milk?
August 10, 1997: Resistance is futile.

Allie video, August 10, 1997, Battle of Wills (3:33).
A low level battle of wills…or a failure to communicate. You pick.

Later in August we returned to Montana with the Embreys to spend time at Flathead Lake with Fred and Fran. Here we are on the dock in back of their cabin, ready for a ride in Fred and Fran’s boat. We learned that the lake was quite large and Fred liked to go very, very fast.

  • Allie and I in back, with (is that Kristen or a Davis step-cousin?) in the hat
  • Going very fast
  • Maybe too fast
  • Reading about boating safety, no doubt
  • Sittin’ on the dock of the lake

Hammock time was a little more our speed.

Lakeside and touring in the vicinity. We could see the appeal of Flathead Lake and Montana in general, but we have not made it back.

  • Coming from cabin toward cars and road
  • Lakeside behind cabin
  • Overlooking Flathead Lake
  • Headwaters of lake
  • Just swingin’
  • Sara, two Davis step-cousins, Allie
  • Joe with one of Fran’s sons
  • Sara and Joe in the cabin
  • Fred with dog (I don’t even remember them getting a dog)

I think these are the last photos we have with Fred.

We all had issues with Fred and Fran as a couple, and it made for another uncomfortable trip (note that there are no photos of Fran). Unfortunately, before long Fred succumbed to a rapid illness. At least it was not a lingering demise. His ashes are scattered in the lake. There’s more to be said about the topic of Fred and Fran, but I’m not ready to get into it (more than 20 years later). Suffice to say that the blending of families does not always work out as hoped and bitterness can linger for a long time. We wish that Fred had more time to spend time with his grandkids to see them grow and we wish they had more time to get to know their Poppy.

We had just returned home on August 31 and were unpacking when we learned that Princess Diana had died in a Paris car crash. The news was devastatingly sad, especially for Barb who had been a big fan of all things royal.

Meanwhile, back home, it was time for another Hekimian picnic.

  • Building upper body strength

Pool time…maybe at the Dorsey Search Columbia pool.

  • With Nana Leila

September softball game.

  • Barb at first base!
  • Even I got to play
  • Cheering with Maddie and unknown child
  • Cute as a (belly) button

And enjoying bubble time at the OGC soccer game.

  • With Maddie and Ashley

Killing time at the Columbia Mall after an unfortunate haircut, maybe waiting around for Mom, and later that day at home

Barb’s work colleagues, Helaine and Joel, got married and we attended along with a few select friends.

  • With Gloria
  • With Dan and David
  • Gloria, Barb and Dan
  • Dan and Barb
  • With Helaine and Gloria
  • Stuart, Dan, David and Barb
  • Dapper couple

Here are a handful of pictures from various parties and outings. I think maybe this first set are from daycare events.

  • Hostages at daycare
  • Daycare party?
  • Daycare? Elsewhere?
  • Daycare outdoors?

The next set were from other outings. Your guess is welcome.

  • At someone’s house?
  • With friend Kristin, in a heron’s nest
  • With cousin Kristen
  • Party at someone’s house with Kristen and Sara
  • Kristen and Allie

One way or another, we got tickets for a taping of the Late Show with David Letterman for September in New York. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to attend for reasons long forgotten. I had been a longtime fan of Letterman and had seen a taping of his older show at Rockefeller Center. I’m not sure Barb has ever seen a TV show taping. It’s a slightly surreal and anticlimactic event that I think everyone should experience at least once, in this media age.

After taking a couple of months off from videotaping, I pulled out the camera in early October, in preparation for Allie’s birthday, no doubt. We warmed up with some dancing with Barney on the TV a couple of days ahead of the party. Allie was a fine dancer from way back.

October 3, 1997: Barney Dance
October 3, 1997: Another Barney Dance.

Allie video, October 3, 1997, Dancing (4:54).
Allie dances to Barney songs on TV.

Allie celebrated her second birthday with multiple parties; first, we celebrated at home on a Sunday afternoon. The Embreys, Harders and Nana Leila were special guests. We have extended videos of the afternoon, but no photos.

October 5, 1997: Maddie and Allie coming downstairs, in their own ways.

Allie video, October 5, 1997, Birthday Inside (3:05).
Rolling around with Maddie.

October 5, 1997: Happy Birthday!
October 5, 1997: Joe’s Commercial

Allie video, October 5, 1997, Birthday Cupcakes (6:57).
Enjoying cupcakes with Sara, Kristen and Maddie.

Allie video, October 5, 1997, Sand Work (2:37).
Some time for Sara, Kristen and Allie in the sandbox.

October 5, 1997: Bubble time
October 5, 1997: Bubble Girls – “I did it!”

Allie video, October 5, 1997, Bubble Time (13:04).
Everyone blowing bubbles on the deck.

Next, she had one at daycare.

  • Birthday girl!
  • Leila serves cupcakes
  • Which one to choose?
  • Getting the first bite

Allie’s official birthday party — on either Saturday, October 4 or 11 — was at a now-forgotten play zone we could rent out (same place as friend Kristin’s party previous year) with a roomful of friends, only some of whom I can identify now. We should have taken better notes. The party started with cake time.

  • Candles lit
  • Happy Birthday to You!
  • Make a wish!
  • Success!
  • Select the right one
  • Dig in
  • Ahhhh
  • D.J., a friend from Gymboree
  • Jimmy and Christine
  • Kristin and “Julia”
  • Dayva
  • Time for presents

There was also time to play.

  • Making a leap
  • Where’s Allie?
  • Had enough?

Laurie showed up in the fall, probably around Allie’s birthday, and brought a book in Spanish to expand Allie’s language skills.

Barb’s work friend, Mary Beth, had a baby. Barb visited their house and later they visited ours. Not long after, they moved to Minnesota. C’est la vie.

Embrey family Halloween and Sara and Kristen, solo.

Getting ready for a Halloween party at Barb’s work, featuring a less than cooperative Pooh bear.

  • Pick me up
  • Must we?
  • Other revelers
  • Mystery woman
  • One of us is looking good

Halloween for real was celebrated again with Dayva and Bobo. Allie came to better terms with her Pooh outfit and matched with Bobo. Many thanks to Alan again for carting them around their neighborhood.

Getting ready for daycare…the backpack (“pack-pack”) was almost bigger than the student.

  • Backpack ready for a day at daycare
  • Allie’s best Elvis sneer

A few miscellaneous photos.

  • At Patti and Lee’s?
  • Pensive
  • Static hair day
  • Less than happy
  • Happier
  • Very happy
  • New trike
  • Compromising photo at a hotel somewhere

Mid-November Christmas decorating party with Santa, with Sara and Kristen. I think maybe Betsy organized/found this activity.

Decorating Christmas cookies at Patti’s with Jimmy and Christine.

We organized a big November 19 outing to the Baltimore Arena to see a show of Barney and Friends. It qualifies as Allie’s first concert, and possibly the best.

  • Barney concert marketing was amazingly elaborate
  • Ticket and a mailer sent to our home
  • Membership in Barney fan club
  • Our row at the concert
  • Waiting with Dayva and Alan, DJ and Connie
  • DJ and Connie
  • Kristin
  • Dayva
  • Dayva and Allie
  • Bobo
  • Bobo and Alan watching the show
  • Allie entranced
  • Barney and Baby Bop
  • Happy customers

A holiday visit at our house from Laurie, Maggie, Grandmom and Grandpop.

We got these portraits done at Sears but they are both undated at the moment. I’m guessing they were from around this time, based on hair length and lack of other portraits from 1997, but I guess the pencil one could have been done even earlier. Prove me wrong!…or let me know if it shows up in another location. In any case, such a cute girl!

A visit with Santa.

Christmas Eve at Auntie Jessie’s.

  • Not really ready to go
  • Time for carols
  • Not sure who people in the back are
  • With Jessie

Christmas night at our house with all the girls.

December 25, 1997: Barb reads Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You? to Allie

Allie video, December 25, 1997, Christmas Day (5:01).
Christmas morning at our house. Reading a new book.

Allie video, December 25, 1997, Christmas Play (4:00).
Christmas morning at our house. Low key playing centered around fake naps.

Boxing Day at Patti’s.

December 28, 1997: Some of us are having more fun than others.
December 28, 1997: Allie’s turn
December 28, 1997: The final word (oh, the irony) — “Winter fun. This is why we don’t live in New England.”

Allie video, December 28, 1997, Sledding (4:21).
“Winter fun. This is why we don’t live in New England.”

Dayva’s birthday party also at the Columbia play zone. It was the place to be…too bad it closed.

A Christmas note from Auntie Mary featuring her swim with dolphins in Hawaii. It was a highlight of her life, she later noted.

A couple of other family pictures we received around Christmastime. I’m not sure what the occasion was for Grandmom, but it’s a nice photo.

  • Aunt Leona, Cousin Kate, Uncle Larry
  • Grandmom

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