Throwback Photographs and Memories

by Skip Cohen


The fun of Throwback Thursday goes a lot deeper than just appreciating old photographs. Sometimes an image connects the past, along with a lot of different people and events.

With the pandemic's downtime, I've spent a lot of time cleaning closets, opening old boxes, and digging through file drawers. While the purpose was to get more organized, the result has been a never-ending discovery of old memories.

In a collection of photographs from my Dad's things, I found the image on the right. It's me at age 5 at daycare. At that time, my mother was helping my Dad build his business, and I'd be dropped off at "Mrs. Schlee's" every day. She had a half dozen kids she took care of and a swing set in the backyard.

But the part of the memory that hits home the hardest is being afraid of her dog. I think the dog's name was Lady, and she was a lovable mutt, but I was scared to death of her. Whenever it came time to play outside, if the dog was out in the yard, I'd climb up on the swing set and just stay there.

I remember one time being so afraid of the dog, and refusing to come down that I wet my pants!
For all I know, Mrs. Schlee took this picture to say to my parents, "I don't know what to do with your kid!"

It's bizarre for me to think about how afraid I used to be of dogs. I don't recall any traumatic event in my life that created my fear of dogs, with one exception - my mother was deathly afraid of them, and it took years for us to get a dog in the family. So, I'm guessing it was her fears that were the foundation for mine. 

Nothing beats Throwback Thursday's for those great looks in your rearview mirror. Whether you share them on your blog or just enjoy them for your own walk down Memory Lane - take the time and go on your own hunt. It's not only a great reminder of the industry we're all a part of, but it's a kick to take a break from politics and the pandemic!

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