Christmas 1956

Sometimes, you can tell just by looking at a photo what it might have been used for. The minute I saw this, I thought this would have made a great Christmas card! Here we have the Jorden children ready to sing a carol for you. Joyce is at the organ, and her lovely singers are Lois, Rita, and Carl.

The date on the back of the photo is 1956. Joyce would have been 14 and in the 9th grade at Roosevelt Jr High. She had been playing the organ for about a year and a half by the time this photo was taken. Lois was 11, and we think was in 5th grade. Rita would have been six and a half and in first grade. Lucky Carl was too young for school.

While things have changed, how we wish people a Merry Christmas has not. Most people send mail through the US Post Office. Christmas was and will always be a time for family, food, and fellowship. Wishing you nothing but the best the season has to offer.

PS – I tried to zoom in to see the names of of the songs on the music, but the pixels distort, and it can’t be read….but I think it’s Joy to the World. You can tell there are four words, and they aren’t very big.

Traveling Cousins

Diane Delahunty, Kathie Delahunty (Young), Lois Jorden, Rita Jorden (Smith) in front in side yard of Jorden home on Laura Street, Peoria, Illinois 1952

Summer is the best time to travel when you’re a kid. You’re free from school and it’s fun to travel even to places that are familiar. Here we have Jean’s cousins Diane and Kathie Delahunty. Their parents are Gilbert Thomas Delahunty and Clara Elizabeth Bourscheidt. Clara and our Pop (Frank Burd) were siblings. So they are cousins to our Jean. Both Diane and Kathie were born in Evanston where their father worked for the Republic National Life Insurance Company. They have an older brother not pictured here named Thomas. He is10 years senior to Kathie, having been born in 1931.

I know the time I have spent with my cousins was precious time. You don’t realize it at the time, but it can be some of the best memories of your life; this gathering of family. Our cousins are often the first friends we have as children. Cousins are the best of both worlds, family and friend all at the same time. Cousins are friends that will love you forever. Distance and time can not break the bond you have with them. No matter how long a time between visits a cousin will pick up right where you left off from your last visit.

May my cousins know how appreciated and loved they are.