My Dad and His Siblings in 1975

I like to be able to find photos from 50 years ago for some type of family event.  It’s a good even number.  I like bigger numbers like 60, 70, or 80.  A photo from exactly 100 years ago is not easy to find, so when I find one it is really special.  I hope there isn’t one for today, because I am not aware of it.  It’s so easy to overlook those types of anniversaries when there is so much history to look over.  That’s why I decided on the 50-year anniversary of the Fourth of July Celebration from 1975 for my dad’s family.

The Landry family get togethers were always so enjoyable.  There were so many people, and the numbers seemed to grow every year.  Cousins were marrying and having children everywhere you turned.  There were usually photos of large groups, and I have one from 1975.  It’s one of my least-favorite photos of myself.  I thought about being brave and posting it but decided against it.  It was really just a matter of opting for this one instead.

Because even though there were always large family photos, my dad and his siblings had a tradition of taking a photo of just the eight of them.  They were the children of Robert Joseph “Rob” Landry, Sr. and Germaine Erie Patureau Landry.  They were better known as Mama and Papa to these eight, and they were known as Mee Maw and Pee Paw to all of us grandchildren.

In 1975, neither Mee Maw nor Pee Paw were alive.  Pee Paw died in 1957 at the age of 64.  I recently reached the age he was at his death.  It will take a while longer for me to pass up Mee Maw.  She died in 1973 just a month short of her 79th birthday.  This photo was just two years after her death.  The siblings must have decided to keep the family get togethers going after their mother’s passing.  I wonder if they discussed that at all, or it was just what everyone wanted.  Whatever it was, it sure did endure.  Those siblings continued getting the family together for about 40 years.  Not without the help of their children, of course.  It has stopped, because one by one they have all passed away.  This is the first July 4th without any of those Landry siblings.

The photo was taken at The First’s home.  That would be the home of cousin Shirley and her husband Dudley.  She is my godmother.  We had the Fourth of July celebration there for many years.  I don’t know when it started, and I don’t know when it stopped.  I also don’t remember what the family did for the Fourth when Mee Maw was still alive.  But I know we got together in 1975, because I have this photo to prove it!  Photos are such good assistance to our memory.  Thankfully, I can still remember the name of everyone in the photo.  I thought I would share that with you. 

I’ll start on the left with Marie in her so very patriotic red, white, and blue blouse.  It’s the main thing that stood out when I restored the colors to the photo.  That and the green grass.  Marie was the oldest sister and she’s standing next to the youngest sister Frances.  Frances is standing somewhat behind Germaine, who is in a mint green outfit.  Not as patriotic as her big sister but still looking spiffy.  Next is Hubert, the father of The First.  To the right of him is my dad Bob.  The family called him Bobbie, but many of his friends called him Pluto.  Next to him is Wana.  She almost got the patriotic colors correct, she’s just missing a bit of red.  You can barely see A. J. next to her, because Johnny is in front of him.  He may have got in that habit when they were young.  A. J. was the oldest boy, and Johnny – the youngest – could have stood in front of him without blocking him at some point.  It was not the case in 1975.

I hope you all have a wonderful Fourth with friends, family, and/or loved ones.