Floating along

Wading and lifting one's skirts...suggested to the viewer by Sepia Saturday this week.  

Dad in the Black River, with no swim suit, 1956 or so.

My first thought upon seeing this photo was "what a relief those women and boys were feeling, to have shucked their hosiery and shoes, and lifted either pants or skirts."  Only one woman took her hat off.   Then (being a bit of a bad girl) I thought, those women didn't shave their legs!  That wouldn't have been necessary with long skirts, now would it?  Ah, such lucky ladies.

I know, encumbered by layers of clothing that went to wrist, neck and ankles, how could they be glad of hairy legs?  I dare say the thought of shaving those legs would have been totally shocking to them.  As would the idea of wearing most of the clothes people go swimming in, or just walk around daily wearing these days.

OK, back to reality of connecting the theme to some of my old photos.

Little sis in front, I may be to the right behind her, because I was wearing, yep, a swim cap!  Unknown other girl in the rear.

The reason for my swim cap is my curls, which probably meant I slept on either brushy wire curlers or maybe pink foam ones.  When suffering that much, I wanted to keep my precious curls, though by the end of a day they usually had straightened out completely. 

Here I come, a relaxed and very thin adolescent!

Our family didn't ever take vacations. This is it, the one time we went and stayed for a week (or so) away from home or any relatives.  Not that great a memory, actually.  We really didn't know how to relax or certainly how to "play together."

Couldn't get Mom into a bathing suit and as usual she's sticking out her tongue at having her picture taken.

 I like the floating along while another tube rider is in a hurry to get downriver.

Apparently the outfit is still around where we stayed.