Throwback Thursday - Pop's Sense of Humor - 1983

The fun of Throwback Thursday is all in the memories old photographs create. They make us laugh, cry and take us on a continuous journey down Memory Lane.

I know I'm right on the edge of the poor taste envelope on this one. I'm sure there will be somebody out there who wants to criticize me for sharing this especially if they're offended by "the bird," adopted, feel this is a violation of copyright or think it's merely inappropriate since both my folks have passed away.

Well, my birthday is coming up this weekend, and this was sent to me thirty-five years ago, probably just about to the day. I was a manager at Polaroid, and responsible for Consumer Relations in the overseas subsidiaries. I was traveling out of the country every three weeks and typically gone for two. It was an incredible assignment.

Remember, there was no Internet back then. And, we were allowed one phone call home each week. There was nobody you could call if you needed help. You needed to know your job, play the politics when appropriate and pretty much have everything you needed in your head or briefcase.

Now here's why this is so much fun to share today... There are a number of you who met my folks over the years. They were great parents, and my Dad was always my best buddy. I can hear my mother saying something like, "Ralph, you can't send that," and then laughing hysterically as Dad literally cut and pasted his head and Mom's on the card.

The inside of the card just says, "You're Adopted!" But it's the message that Dad wrote that's mine to cherish. At least in my lifetime, it's the flashbacks to those moments of laughter and humor that give my folks a level of immortality.

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Even though I've used this quote by author, Jodi Picoult several time previously it's still the very best quote about old photographs.

“This is what I like about photographs.
They're proof that once, even if just for a heartbeat, everything was perfect.”

So, on this Throwback Thursday, have some fun looking through your own stash of memorabilia. You won't regret it and it'll help remind you just how incredible a career in imaging can be. No matter what your role in this industry, you help people capture and share memories. 

​Oh, and if anybody can top my Dad's sense of humor feel free to share your story. Maybe we'll start a new section of funny moments with our "rents."