Lives In Snapshots

I finally hooked up my "new" (one year old) Kodak scanner, copier, printer, fax, photo printer.  Now I'm scanning old photos as fast as I can.  For starters, here are a few of my mother and me through the years. All but the last two pictures were taken by my artist aunt Jeanie Garner.   My Dad, Gene Baker, took the one of Mom and me in our back yard, and the last photo was taken by Cheryl of Lizzy Frizzfrock fame at her house last October.  So much fun putting these memories together, and I'm excited to do more in the coming months!

My future's so bright I had to wear shades! 

Uh, put me down, Mom, I have a reputation 

to maintain...

You smiling 'cause I'm just too cute? 

Damn skippy! 

I learned by watching her play.  The piano teacher 

gave me a piece to learn: "March Of The Wee Folk." 

But I watched Mom's fingers, remembered the song 

and positions, and learned to play "Für Elise" by 

sight.  Teacher was not amused.  Said I wouldn't 

learn theory like that.  She was right.  "Für Elise" 

didn't need theory.  I was the star of the recital.  But 

I do wish I knew piano theory.  

Anyone can tell by looking at these three preceding 

photos that I had a horrible childhood.  There was 

laughter.  Fun.  Games. Family. More laughter.  I should

write a book about how deprived of drugs, booze, and  

domestic violence my upbringing was.  You can see how 

I was hurting inside.  Hurting from laughing!  I can still 

make my mother laugh, and when we laugh it brings 

tears to our eyes, and a couple more crows feet on our 

temples.  Thank goodness for my "horrible" childhood! 

Even back in the lean years we traveled together. 

TWA flight 533 from Amarillo, Texas to 

Honolulu, Hawaii via LA.  The flight from Amarillo 

was on a Lockheed Super Constellation, the one with 

three tails.  From LA to Hawaii we were on one of the 

first Boeing 707's.  It was September, 1961.  Hawaii 

had just recently become the 50th state.  I was out of school 

for two weeks.  Teacher was not amused! Gave Mom an 

attitude when she brought me to school after the trip. 

I guess she was a bit envious that we had gone to such

an exotic location.  I mean, from Amarillo to WHERE? 

Really, now......

During my high school years, my mother 

always stayed close, even when I went 

through those stupid pre-adult mood swings. 

 The years dont' stop to reflect.  But thankfully, 

we can.  My mother is a amazing woman. I pray 

there will be many more years of these photos, 

weathered as we may become, but of us laughing 

nevertheless. 

Rick Baker 

February 26, 2011

Rochester, NY