Tags
brother, children, Diana Schwenk, family, growing up, happy, health, Hump Day Chronicles, joy, kids, laughter, life, memories, parents, Relationships
My parents are children of the war. Growing up in war-torn Berlin during WWII, they were no strangers to hunger and fear.
That’s why they worked so hard to carve out a better life for me and my brother. They were determined that we would never, ever feel the pangs of hunger or feel unsafe.
And they were determined that we would be well-behaved, polite and respectful people.
Come join me on a little walk down memory lane.
That’s Rex the dog in that picture with me and Debbie. Debbie is the oldest child of my brother’s God Parents.
I can distinctly remember ALWAYS wanting to wear that dress in the fifth picture – it was my absolute favourite dress!
Before my brother and I started school, we moved into a house in the suburbs. My dad sold part of his stamp collection to put a down payment on our family home. It was awesome to grow up on Edgewood Drive. That’s where we learned to roller-skate, ride bikes, skip rope, hula hoop and so much more.
Yes my parents were determined that we would be well-behaved, polite and respectful people.
It just goes to show that not everything turns out the way you plan it.
~ HUMP DAY CHRONICLES ~
Do you have a favourite memory about your childhood home? Do you think you turned out according to plan?
rachelcarrera said:
WOW! What a sweet stroll down Memory Lane. (Or Edgewood Drive as it happens.) As a matter of fact, the house I grew up on had the backyard on an Edgewood Drive! You were such a cutie! ❤
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dianasschwenk said:
That’s amazing Rachel, I have many fond memories of Edgewood Drive, hope you do too! ❤
Diana xo
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Minuscule Moments said:
Diana LOVING all these wonderful photo’s of you and your family, so precious. Man I think I owned a poncho similar to yours. Mum crocheted us all one. We thought we looked so cool. You were such a blonde bombshell and I laughed at the pic of you making mud pies because I did that too. My dad dug a big hole and filled it with water……hours of fun for us.
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dianasschwenk said:
Kath Mom made one for Debbie too and we both thought we were cool. The patch on my pants says slow – I thought that was pretty cool at the time as well.
Ha! Your dad is cool for digging that hole. ❤
Diana xo
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Patty B said:
lovely memories! I don’t have a memory of just one home, being raised in the military I always loved the way a house smelled right as you move in. We normally lived in Army housing so the paint was always fresh and clean. The first night before everything is unpacked – a cozy unsettled feeling always felt a briskness like the first cool autumn day, don’t ask me why, maybe because we always seemed to move in the fall. 🙂 And I think in a way I did turn out as planned. Like your parents my mom survived in Frankfurt Germany during the war years and my father fought with Gen Patton third army. Both knew hunger and hard times and like your parents tried to shield us and made sure we were well taken care of. Mom was a very strong woman and dad raised me to be independent, and my husband also encouraged me bringing out the strength of mom and the independence of dad. So as I look back on my life, yes I can say I turned out the way my parents had hoped, strong, independent and able to face what life throws at me. Now my life on the other hand really did not turn out like I had planned – but then again happily married for nearly 35 yrs and have two great children, a great job (although not a journalist or first lady Army general!) God has indeed blessed me with a good life – like He had planned for me all along!
I just love your walks down memory lane, you always open the door for my happy memories. You are a treasure!
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dianasschwenk said:
Your story is amazing Patty – thank you for sharing it here. You are also a treasure to me. ❤
Diana xo
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Patty B said:
ah shucks!
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utesmile said:
This is so lovely to go down memory lane. Well I am sure your parents are proud of you!
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dianasschwenk said:
Thanks Ute! ❤
Diana xo
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Wendy L. Macdonald said:
Diana, I suspect that you have exceeded your parent’s expectations. ❤ My daughter had a dress that she loved until it got too short (little girls have a tendency to grow up). By the way, I love those girly pictures of you. My husband and I are pleased by the thoughtfulness our children show to others–even towards those who are thoughtless.
Blessings & happy Mother's Day ~ Wendy ❀
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dianasschwenk said:
Thanks so much. Happy Mother’s Day to you too Wendy! ❤
Diana xo
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Wyrd Smythe said:
“Yes my parents were determined that we would be well-behaved, polite and respectful people.”
No doubt they’re absolutely crushed at how badly you turned out! 😐
Yeah, right. XD
Nice blast from the past, Lady Di!
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dianasschwenk said:
I was trying to make a joke with that last photo Smitty – it didn’t work. 😀
Diana xo
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Wyrd Smythe said:
Oh, no, it totally worked!
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dianasschwenk said:
Whew!
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vanbytheriver said:
Your “silliness and playfulness” has served you so well, Diana. I can tell. It has saved me so often and I can recognize it pretty easily. Such a sweet and loving assembly of B&W memories here. This is one of my favorite posts. (You are so very blonde !!!) Thanks for sharing. 💕 Van
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dianasschwenk said:
I was mega blond Van! You couldn’t see my eyebrows until I got some colour on my face in the summer. ❤
Diana xo
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vanbytheriver said:
I have a sister in law like that..I think she still draws them on. Hard to relate..I spent a lifetime trying to get rid of mine !! (The grass, and the body hair…always greener) ☺ Van
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dianasschwenk said:
haha so true but although my leg hairs are blond, if I don’t shave my legs they glisten in the sun like diamonds!
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Don said:
Thanks for sharing these aspects of your life Diana. You obviously have a wonderful story. There’s something about photographs like those you’ve shared. They help us see our roots and define ourselves.
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dianasschwenk said:
There’s something about B&W’s especially, Don. They seem to reveal personality and mood, don’t you think? ❤
Diana xo
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Don said:
I agree Diana. There’s always a mood of “passing time” and life’s journeys about them.
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Chatter Master said:
That was a joyful stroll!!!!!! 😀 And I don’t think for one minute that you didn’t turn out just like your parents hoped! That last picture is a FUN picture, not a “just goes to show” picture. 😉
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dianasschwenk said:
I do like fun Colleen! Thank you for coming along on this stroll. ❤
Diana xo
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joannerambling said:
What wonderful memories and some great photos as well
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dianasschwenk said:
Thanks so much Jo-Anne! ❤
Diana xo
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Jean said:
Yes, sure like you I mention about the house where I grew up in my blog–my parents lst home. Good memories of the whole neighbourhood which ranged from very poor (our big family) to well-off : the president of the university just lived on next block 15 houses up our street. The house was drafty, needed repairs which wasn’t good for parents’ low income..
Now the street is part of an historic local tour…some heritage houses. (Not my childhood house.)
We all need a moment of harmless fun like your pictures. 🙂
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dianasschwenk said:
Yes we do Jean. ❤ Thanks for stopping by and reading my story.
Diana xo
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markbialczak said:
You can’t fool me, Diana. You turned out respectful and polite. And quite delightful. As you are in these photos of your youth. Great, great, great photographs, they are. Thank you so much for sharing these here. ❤
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dianasschwenk said:
Thanks Mark, I had a pretty good childhood, all being said and done. ❤
Diana xo
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Healing Grief said:
Great photos Diana and wonderful memories for you. Thanks for sharing 🙂
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dianasschwenk said:
Thanks Karen, and I love sharing! ❤
Diana xo
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Alan A. Malizia: Contagious Optimism! Co-Author said:
Diana,
At the age of four I was stricken with Polio. I was paralyzed from the neck down. Yet through the dedication of those in the health care system and the love and support of courageous parents I made strides beyond expectation.
When one believes in a loving and ever present God, and takes the attitude of one who chooses to make lemon-ade from lemons, then no matter the circumstances that comes to one, the unplanned becomes the plan.
-Alan
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dianasschwenk said:
Powerful testimony Alan! I’ve mentioned this already, but I watched a documentary on Theodore Roosevelt and he overcame challenges and medical predictions as well. Love when that happens. ❤
Diana xo
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paulettemotzko said:
Reblogged this on Totally Inspired Mind….
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dianasschwenk said:
Thanks so much for the reblog Paulette! ❤
Diana xo
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Deb Weyrich-Cody said:
I’m sorry, I must be missing something…. How is it that you’re not “sensitive”, “well-behaved” or “polite”?
And KUDOS to your parents, Diana – in spite of your hackles standing on end every now and again (but only in a good way; )
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dianasschwenk said:
I’m alluding to my silliness and playfulness and I guess making a joke that didn’t translate too well! 😉
Thanks Deb! ❤
Diana xo
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Deb Weyrich-Cody said:
No, actually you’re taking me ‘way too seriously… Gotcha! (BIG; )
Hugs,D.
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dianasschwenk said:
oh you! 😀 !
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cyclingrandma said:
Great that you have those photos! Thanks for sharing and it sounds like your parents did a great job. Love the poncho– I think I had one like that!
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dianasschwenk said:
My grandmother copied a bunch of photos my parents had sent her over the years and created a photo album for me in the 70s. That’s where these photos come from Lisa.
My mom made a poncho for me and one for Debbie. ❤
Diana xo
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Jennifer's Journal said:
Diana, thanks for sharing your precious photos. You are so cute! I remember my favourite dress: royal blue velvet when I was about four. I loved the ponchos my sister and I wore too. ❤
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dianasschwenk said:
You’re welcome Jennifer! Do you have any photos of your favourite dress? ❤
Diana xo
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Jennifer's Journal said:
There used to be one with me wearing it, where I was sitting on a little stool with the phone receiver to my ear. Mom said I would like to listen to the dial tone. Go figure! The photo is gone missing, unfortunately. 😦
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Don Royster said:
Great photos and story. Seems like a nice family. That little beastie at the end can’t belong to that nice family. She’s scary.
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dianasschwenk said:
Oh Don, you have no idea! 😉
Diana xo
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Jim McKeever said:
Beautiful tribute, Diana … I’d say they did a darned good job (I’m sure that last photo of you was an exception to the rule!) Jim
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dianasschwenk said:
You’re that sure eh Jim? Well I don’t want to throw you for a loop, but…
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Louise Gallagher said:
Love this post and all your photos and your cheeky ways.
And yup — just ask the PCs. Sometimes, it doesn’t turn out the way you expected! 🙂
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dianasschwenk said:
Thanks Louise and yes the PCs could definitely attest to this! ❤
Diana xo
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Deb Weyrich-Cody said:
Yeah, really, eh?! Who’d a thunk it? Happy Spring!
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dianasschwenk said:
Happy Spring to you too Deb!
❤
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Tracy Lee Karner said:
I am quite sure my parents did not expect me to be a poet/writer/nature-lover/cook-gardener/bilingual/living-in-New-England woman. They are none of those things, and although they love me, I totally baffle them.
They live in Texas. Once when I was visiting there, I went out to eat with my dad and two of my brothers, to a restaurant where my youngest brother was a waiter. The owner knew the whole family except me. When I was introduced as the sister, he looked at me, looked at all of them and said, “No way.”
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dianasschwenk said:
Ha, that’s hilarious Tracy, are you really that different? ❤
Diana xo
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Tracy Lee Karner said:
I think the differences are superficial — they only appear to be significant. Anyone who looks closely, and beyond the obvious, will see the relationship,
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jmgoyder said:
Cheeky girl – I love this!
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dianasschwenk said:
Thanks Julie! ❤
Diana xo
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bulldog said:
This is a brilliant post and I love reading about your youth… I’m sure you turned out just as your parents expected…
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dianasschwenk said:
Aww thanks Bulldog. ❤
Diana xo
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Ann Koplow said:
I love this post, Diana! I have lots of memories from my childhood home and I’m happy to tell you I’m sending this from my current home.
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dianasschwenk said:
Thanks Ann and Yay, you’re home! ❤
Diana xo
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