A Bazaar Picnic

I’m not really sure about the circumstances of this picnic.  But for some reason the photos and the writing on the back of them has captured my attention.  At least for now!  As much as I like old photos of my ancestors, the addition of seeing their handwriting in letters or on photos is a nice bonus.

 

These photos were taken around this time of year, but they were from 63 years ago.  The exact date was October 17, 1954.  This first photo shows uncle Duffy, my cousin Douglas Winn, my Mee Maw (paternal grandmother Germaine Erie Patureau Landry), another cousin Dennis Landry, uncle Joe Raley, and aunt Frances Raley.  The little girl sitting on the blanket in the front is not identified.  I’m thinking it is another cousin Daphne Winn, because she looks to be too young to be The First (Shirley Landry) who would have been seven at the time.  It’s Mee Maw’s writing on the back, because as you can see, she labels herself as ‘me.’

The grand occasion for this picnic was named on the photo.  It reads, “The St. Huberts (sp) Bazaar was held in Prejean’s pasture, so we went to Wana’s and I had a picnic in her back yard with children.  But we never could get them all together.”  I’m not sure if the Bazaar was canceled or it was just close to Wana’s house, but Mee Maw must have decided it was the perfect day for a picnic at her daughter’s house.  And those disagreeable children would not behave and get together for a group photo.  But we have the photos nonetheless to memorialize that outstanding picnic from years gone by.

This other photo is obviously from the same day.  But it was written by one of Mee Maw’s children.  (Hence the naming of Mee Maw as ‘Mama’ on the back of the photo.)  In this photo you see Duffy, Frances, Joe, Douglas, Mee Maw, and Dennis.  Even though the photo doesn’t mention it, you can also see the legs of the little girl on the blanket that I call Daphne.  (I’m sure Daphne has this photo with all the names on it too, but hers probably has her name written on it!  Unless of course, it is not Daphne.)

I like other details of the photo as well.  You can see the bottles of Coca-Cola on the blanket.  No canned sodas back then!  No red Solo cup either.  And Mee Maw was prepared, too.  She had a box of Cut Rite wax paper in her lap in case there were leftovers to save for later.

Oh, well, that’s it.  Just a short little picnic in Wana’s back yard.  Nothing fancy.  Nothing really important.  Not much to write about when you think about it.  But sometimes it’s those simple things that can be cherished the most.  What any one of her grandkids wouldn’t give to be able to have a nice little October picnic in their back yard with their beloved Mee Maw.