Saturday Snapshots: December 14, 2013

{One of the season's most enjoyable activities - making snowmen (on a sunny day to boot!) - is captured beautifully on colour film in this c. 1950 image.}




{A million extra style points to you for the wearing of a bowtie while bowling, fashionable 1940s chap.}




{What I would venture to guess was a casual class photo (based on the ages of the youngsters and brick building behind them) from the 1950s. Group shots like this are such a terrific way to see some of the real world youth fashions of the day.}




{Part of me feels like I might have used this snap before, but I can't bring an exact post to mind, and it's possible that I've just looked it so many times over the years that it feels like I've blogged it. No matter if I have, it's so exquisitely rich in 1940s summertime awesomeness that it warrants sharing multiple times.}




{With Christmas just nine days away, there's no way I could omit a festive holiday shot from this edition of Saturday Snapshots. I totally fell for this lovely 1940s photo of a young mom sitting under the tree with an armful of (what I'm guessing are) her kid's new toys in her arms. }




{From the headscarf to the shades, the pair of bracelets to the seriously sleek convertible, there's much to adore about this warm weather 1950s shot.}




{Three young female students from the Kehl School of Dance pose in their pretty ballet outfits, likely during the 1940s (pictured from left to right are Jo Jean Kehl, Joan Batz, and Jo Ann Kehl).}




{A group of Patrons enjoying a refreshing drink at Koecher's Bar in Theresa, Wisconsin on July 7, 1950 (all of whom are identified by name on this photo's Flickr page).}




{This image has a bit of a posed feel to it, though no background information is provided for it, so it could have just been a well timed slice-of-teenage-life shot. Either way, it's tons of fun and has me wishing we still had a good old-fashioned carhop drive-in around these parts.}




{Vintage snowday sweetness at its most blonde curled, rosy cheeked, mid-century adorable.}


{All images above are from Flickr. To learn more about a specific image, please click on it to be taken to its respective Flickr page.}


♥ ♥ ♥


As we open our eyes to another frosty December morn, it's almost hard to believe that this year will be a memory in little more than two weeks time. Though it's a touch early to recap 2013 just yet, I couldn't let another day pass by with out writing about something that I've been keenly aware each and everyday through the past eleven and a half months: The balance of positive and negative.

No, I'm not talking about magnets, nor ying-yang signs, or even pregnancy tests, what I mean might be more akin to karma, but ultimately, I believe, has a lot to do with one's perception of life.

Nearly every day we each encounter good and bad - people, moments, news, discoveries, expenses, you name it. Some days, the bad far outweighs the good, and others the good dominates, but the lingering pain of the bad (recent or distant) can make it challenging to see the positive that is all around us.

This year was not same as the last one for my husband and I. Few years mirror each other blow for blow, and that's ultimately a good thing - one wants newness and change, growth and exploration with each notch they add to their belt of life. No, 2013 was a lot rougher around the edges. It threw plenty of those aforementioned blows; showed little mercy at times, and tried to tap us dry at every corner.

Was it the worst year ever? Goodness no, and thank that very same goodness that it wasn't, but in the light of such a (by and large) incredible year in 2012, it often seemed that 2013 was being a bit harsh. Yet that is only if we go by the headline stories, what one might not see is the many, many times each month there was goodness and happiness, smiles and joy, so often brought about by the unending kindness of others.

By about mid-July, it struck me that for every rough day, eye-rollingly unpleasant moment, or sudden expense that came our way, there was kindness of the greatest caliber just waiting around the corner. This goodness wasn't always related to the tough situation, stress, or worry, sometimes it was a million miles apart and that was awesome, because it meant that I (we) had something else to focus on for a while.

In speaking of kindness, I would be remiss if I didn't touch directly on that which has come, time and time again, from many of my online friends - as well virtual strangers I encountered in the vastness of the interwebs.

It can be all too easy, thanks to media outlets like the evening news, to think that the world is filled with nothing but sinister, cruel or violent people, but the truth is that nothing could be further from reality. There are so, so many wonderful, caring, giving, concerned, resourceful, understanding individuals out there, and I have been blessed by many such folks all throughout this year of ups and downs.

My deepest of heartfelt thanks goes out to each and every one of them, not only for their friendship, support, assistance and/or generosity, but for reminding me again of all of the good, the righteous, the sweet, and the beautiful that exists in humanity (as well as to be extremely thankful of these heartwarming gifts from those I’ve interacted with).

It is not merely the events that happen to us in life that add weight to the constant balance of good and bad, it is those who touch our lives and add an immeasurable amount of positivity to the good side that help make getting through even the rockiest times more bearable.

There will always be sunshine and storms in each of our universes, but I fully believe that if we opt to focus on the good and the kindness bestowed on us by those in our lives, instead of dwelling on the negatives, it is more than possible to end the year feeling like one's cup runneth over with positivity and happiness.

I know mine certainly is as we set our sights on 2014, and I hope dearly that the same is able to ring true for each of you as well, my dear friends.