40 Years Ago Today - December 29, 1976

40 Years Ago Today - December 27, 1976

40 Years Ago Today - December 25, 1976

For my first Christmas, I was paid a visit by my grandmother Bertha, and her second husband Merle Yaryan.

There's so much going on in these photos. The shiny-foil pictures on the walls. Dad still has them. The rocking chair. Mom still has it. The sofa. It's so yellow it almost hurts. The old TV. It’s so big, it’s a piece of furniture. The carpet. It really is peanut butter and jelly. The small rocking chair. Dad still has it. The reindeer ornament. Dad still has it.

And there’s other stuff that stands out too. The beads acting as a “door.” The look of sheer exhaustion on my mom’s face. The ever-present farmhouse table and chair set that I have loved since childhood.

40 Years Ago Today - December 21, 1976

According to the Point Mugu Rod & Gun Club Letter, my father's work address was at the Pacific Missile Test Center. It listed his extension, "Code," and his home phone number.

40 Years Ago Today - December 20, 1976

40 Years Ago Today - December 17, 1976

40 Years Ago Today - December 16, 1976

My dad made a note in his planner that said "Neil in hospital - OK come home next day."

40 Years Ago Today - December 14, 1976

40 Years Ago Today - December 13, 1976

My dad wrote "Neil to head doctor" in his planner.

40 Years Ago Today - December 3, 1976

December of 1976 brought about a lot of visits to the doctor about my abnormal head growth. There were fears that I had hydrocephalus and may end up unable to care for myself. In the end I would turn out fine but at the time it was very stressful for both parents.

40 Years Ago Today - December 1976

While I'm not entirely sure that the photo was taken in December of 1976, I'm guessing it's very close to late 1976 and early 1977. So I'm putting it here.