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Uncle Donald was the baby, the cute one with curly hair. Dad was the one picked on the most. As you can see he's the skinniest and always had an issue with self esteem which I believe greatly limited what he did in life. Nevertheless, he did well. Lawrence was the last married (at 42), and was the only socialable member of the family. He read a lot, was the first to graduate high school in the family, studied watch repair and also stopped just short of getting his pilot's license when he found out it would cost too much to fly. All three eventually ended up with a career in the Postal Service. They went Postal. They were also very loud! Ben loaded trucks in Denver. He was a bit odd, but harmless and funny. Their Mother loved her boys! Their Dad died in 1951 at the age of 48 from a stroke and so her boys were her life. They took care of her. Left photo, you see a timid face peeking from behind my Dad's Mom. That's Viola (Mommy). Apparently the conversation got a little too loud and her hearing failed and that's why she looks like her water just broke. No worry though...that wouldn't happen for another 3 1/2 years. At this point she was just dating...uhhh... engaged to my Dad. Boy, doesn't this look like a Loretta Lynn biography! You see Lawrence who, although he was very socialable, always seemed oblivious to the picture taking around him and here, once again, is seen shoving food in his mouth. Donald seems to want to either check out the camera or punch out the photographer. At this point it's hard to tell. Those are Donald's kids. He was cute but he could breed! Left is a cute photo of Mom and her future mother-in-law doing a Carol Burnette pose in the late 1950's. Old Miss Paul was sick or something and so Viola (pre-Mom) came down from Fort Branch, Indiana to stay with her and help around the house. They look pretty cozy...perhaps this photo was taken before Viola stole Freda's boy and got an engagement ring from him. Or...maybe that's why Freda's sick and she's on so many drugs she'd hug Adolf Hitler if he could mop. It's hard to say. I wasn't even a sperm at this point...but things change. Here's where all the fun ends...May 5, 1962, after seven years and four days of being together, Richard Paul and Viola Weiss committed to a life of bondage. Dad was always a little nervous about marriage...okay...well, very nervous, evidence by his bright smile! Reminds me of myself when I married, the first time. |