Memories of History

 

In 1961, my father was 36-years old and I

was fourteen.

In 1961 “Travelin’ Man” by Ricky Nelson and

“Crazy” by Patsy Kline were pop hits on the radio.

In 1961 the Berlin Wall was built by the Communists

separating East from West Germany. The U.S. backed

Bay of Pigs Invasion failed to overthrow the Castro

Regime in Cuba.

In 1961, my father and I traveled some 550 miles

by car from Kansas City to the Chicago Area to

visit my grandmother at Christmastime.

I have this photograph of my dad and me taken

by Uncle Ray with Step-grandfather, Joe, and

my five cousins on our visit to Grandma’s in

Park Ridge, Illinois.

Today in 2021, with Christmas nearly two-months

away, Grandma, Joe, Uncle Ray, and Dad are now

gone. I and my five cousins in this photograph

have survived to this day.

1961, a record in time, and especially for

me the beginning of a greater story to

unfold—births, deaths, people and places,

homes, holidays, jobs, travels, failures, suc-

cesses, family, friends, music and art.

1961, a period in history for me with 60 more

years to come, and cherished memories of a

life to be made in photographs yet to be taken.

                       -30-

Chris Hanch 10-4-2021