Part Two: Second Generation, Talitha, the Traveling Skirt

The little red plaid skirt was saved, tucked away in a drawer, and as time went along, my sisters and I continued with the professional photo shoots at age two with our own daughters, the second generation.  Sadly, my mother, Alberta, only lived long enough to see her first two granddaughters’ professional pictures wearing the little skirt.  But I am certainly thankful she had the joy of these first two pictures in the next generation.  She must have been proud that her older two daughters, Nancy and Jincy, carried on this tradition, making more memories.  My father, Walter, was still living, and he was delighted each time one of us passed along a new picture to him.  He continued to display the photographs in his home for all to see.

My sisters and I all resided in Indianapolis for a period of time as we began to raise our families. The little skirt was passed around amongst us when our own little girls turned two years of age.  We took great care of the little skirt, hoping not to have to wash it as the skirt aged.  One may wonder if any little boys were born into our family.  And yes, of course!  But it was the daughters that kept the little skirt traveling around when they were added to our family tree.

I am so thankful that my dear father, Walter, lived long enough to see all of his granddaughters wear this little skirt and receive a photograph.  He was not only proud of his lovely granddaughters’ photographs, his heart was filled with joy when he thought about his beloved wife, Alberta, who had started this tradition many years ago with their four baby-boomer daughters.  He passed away shortly before the third generation started to wear the little skirt.

Times were changing.  The professional pictures were now in color, and it was not at all uncommon for us to have a female professional photographer in the various chain studios we chose.  Cameras were smaller and lighter with more features for clarity.

Instead of heavy black stationary telephones, we now had smaller harvest gold wall telephones in our homes.  My sisters and I were thrilled when a little later these trimline phones became cordless!  We all had dishwashers and microwaves.  Hanging clothes outside on a clothesline became almost obsolete. Popular TV shows included Charlie’s Angels, The Love Boat, Gilligan’s Island, and Little House on the Prairie.

The time period for the second-generation little skirt pictures was 1973 to 1991.  Do any of you have special family memories during this time?  I would love to hear from you!

Pictured below are my four daughters wearing Talitha:  Amanda, Hannah, Liz, and Tavia, the second generation.  I am in the middle picture which was taken in 1955.