What better to start off with than this adorable picture?
Now I have no idea if that picture was actually taken around Christmas, but it was in a group called “Christmas 1974” and there’s snow, so let’s just go with that.
I don’t know when the tradition started, nor how this particular year fits into it, but I remember from my growing up years (not 1974, obvs) that we always drove up to a Christmas tree farm and cut our own tree. The drive always felt really long as a kid, but I laugh now looking at how far away from Rochester it is.
Some years we went to Tollander’s Tree Farm, and other years we went to Ruby Tree Farm (no longer a tree farm). Interestingly, both are now wedding/event rental sites.
Annnnnyyyyyywayyyy, in 1974, we went out and cut a Christmas tree. I’m not sure if this was our tree and this happened in Michigan, or if this was cutting George & Joan’s tree in Ohio. It was Christmas time, trees were cut, fun was had. That’s all I need to know.
In many of the growing up years, we spent our Christmases in Cleveland/Chagrin Falls with the Matilos, Bakers and Strattons. I’m not totally sure about 1974, but there are some random Christmas-time-ish pictures that appear to be from Bakers’ house, which fits the norm, however there are also Christmas pictures at the Goudie house in Rochester. Again, presents were opened, fun was had, pictures were taken, so it really doesn’t matter.
And the Rochester pics:
Next up: Spring 1975 & My 1st Birthday
My Life in 35mm is a series of posts with the story of my life as recorded on the slides of my dad and other family members. This series is updated weekly (mostly). To get email updates of new posts, subscribe at the bottom of this page.
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