El Cajon was a really small town at the time..just a main street..the usual. A drug store, gas station where Pat's brother Johnny worked. Bank of America, a JC Penny's, the Tasty Bake bakery, the Bear State Ice Cream Parlor, the local diner and of course the famous Oscar's Drive-in burger place where we visited from car to car.
There was also the El Cajon theatre.. it was every small town in the USA.
Enlarge this photo for a look at me, age 16, doing the "Hokey Pokey" at the rink on a Friday night. I am the third from the right. The girl to the right of me, Julie, is the one that sent me this picture this evening. She now lives in Oregon and we have not seen each other since 1954.
I had never seen the photograph before. What memories it brought back of my highschool years.
Hugs and love,
Mona
Love the outfits you are all wearing in this photo. Sooo 50's! Such wonderful memories and great for her to have shared this photo with you. Did she track you down on the internet or how did she know where to find you to get the photo to you?
ReplyDeleteDi
The Blue Ridge Gal
Oh Mona,
ReplyDeleteThat is just so cooool!!! You were quite the foxy lady! And to have not seen each other since 1954 and then to hear from her, how awesome! My Mom recently got some very cool photos from a girlfriend. They were high school about the same year. I loved seeing these kind of pics, they just are the best treasures of all!
Hugs, Cindy
Funnt, I read another blog the other day about roller skating and rinks :-) :-) It became popular over here again in the late 70:is and early 80:is but I was happy that I managed to skate forward :-) :-)
ReplyDeleteHave a great day now!
Christer.
Mona,
ReplyDeleteWhat a great photo. Going skating to the skaing rink for us was usually with the church, as the nearest rink was 25 miles away. Our little town is only 1500, so no rink here. I still live in this town. Many hours skating on the uneven sidewalks in town and lots of skinned knees.:) Thanks for sharing.
Robin
OH my word Mona, we must have gone to school together. I lived in El Cajon and went to Grossmont High. I graduated in 1956. How funny and what a coincidence. Those were really fun time. Hugs, Marty
ReplyDeleteWhat fun...both the skating and getting the photo after all these years. And I love the cute capris you were wearing...so glad they are back in style! That's all I wear now! ♥
ReplyDeleteYou do the Hokey-Pokey and you turn yourself around, that's what it's all about!
ReplyDeleteLove it, Mona ♥
Our skating rink was in the next town over and we went there once a month....so much fun! I love that the clothes (capris) you are wearing are still in style today!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Penny
How exciting that your friend sent you that cute picture after all those years. I love surprises like that. I remember going to the Roller Drome in Brattleboro (VT) when I was a kid...such fun!
ReplyDeleteOh, Mona!! The Memories!!! I coveted those white high-tops beyond avarice, and had to settle for hoping to get the same pair every visit to Skateland. Hokey Pokey and Schottische were the THING, weren't they?
ReplyDeleteAnd your sassy self, with that hot-chacha finger in the air---oh, my.
And when we all skated backward to Summer Place---it was like flying with your eyes closed.
What a fun thing, and what a lovely gift from your long-ago friend.
OMGosh, girl...this is bringing back so many great memories. We, too, went skating every Friday and Sat. nights...well, until we got dating age. Then, we went skating with girlfriends if we didn't have a date. How I would LOVE to have a photo of us, skating.
ReplyDeleteThis pic. is priceless to you, I know.
And, you just gave ME an idea for a post...heh heh....
Mona...What a blast from the past!!! What a gift for you to get this picture and see it for the first time. A gift for sure in so many ways!
ReplyDeleteJust came from Dawn's blog, Sweet Cottage Dreams, where she posted a vintage photo (taken prior to the 50's) and was reflecting on the simplicity of entertainment. I love this photo and did pick you out. What a cute teen. I never noticed in your pic's what a full head of hair you are blessed with.
ReplyDeleteI also remember doing the hokey pokey at the skating rink - bet it is not as easy to do as it once was:-)
Mona I used to skate..but was doing extremely well if I kept upright. No backward skating for me! I have heard that the 50's were the last of the innocent times and I fully believe that.
ReplyDeleteYou wuz a good lookin chick then too!
What a great picture!! So much fun to see pictures from the past. I love seeing me "skinny" most of all. Ha! I always thought I had a terrible figure. lol Roller skating was great exercise. I say "was". Wouldn't dare attempt it now.
ReplyDeleteSure fun to look back.
Karen
Ladybug Creek
Aren't you a little cutie Mona! and don't you just wish you were that age again and on those roller skates. I would love to have a go again, but fear falling over and breaking something. I never was as good as you though, I'm sure.
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Star
What a fun story and such a charming picture! All our class parties in junior high were at the roller rink...I never learned to skate backwards, though...
ReplyDeleteShoot, I started a comment and lost it! Anyway, I'm glad she shared the photo, I know how important those sweet memories are to you.
ReplyDeleteMy roller days were in the 70's. Can't think of them with out singing:
Oh, my darling, knock three times on the ceiling if you want me
Twice on the pipe if the answer is no, oh, my sweetness
(Knock, knock, knock!) Means you'll meet me in the hallway
Mmm, twice on the pipe (clink, clink) means you ain't gonna show
LOL! Tony Orlando and Dawn. I used to always get teased, "Hey Dawn where's Tony Orlando?" at school when they were popular!
Oh, for the good ole days!
Hugs,
Dawn
Hi Di,
ReplyDeleteJulie found me on Classmates.com and contacted me about a year ago. She is now a widow and living alone I believe. I hear from her from time to time and she follows me on Classmates. I write on there at times..about our town and high school etc. Hugs,
Mona
Good GRIEF, Martyh! You are kidding! All this time we have been following each other and ...how funny!! :) I am delighted to find this out. We know lots of the same people I imagine. I thought you were a lot younger than me! This is great!
ReplyDeleteTo answer your question Mona, I'm not pulling weeds in a bikini, that's for sure! I'm just catching up on housework. I started a medicine that is giving me muscle cramps so I'm moving slow today. The photo with her grabbing her back struck a chord with me! I'm fine though, no worries.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Dawn
Hi Mona, this is such precious.....thanks for making me smile today.
ReplyDeleteHappy Sunday, sweet lady!
Hi Mona: You look so cute. How fun to get these memories. Things were so much simpler that is for sure. Thanks for your sweet comments. I think that's where they got my checks too, from my mail box. Only they made new ones. Thanks for your concern. Have a great week. Blessings, Martha
ReplyDeleteHey Mona...I enjoyed viewing your hokey pokey picture...and just to let you know I was here on your blog...I'll leave you with one thought...age is a state of mind : )
ReplyDeleteLizzie
East Hampton, CT
Lizzie! YOU DID IT! Finally! I am delighted to see you finally signed up and were able to comment. I love you, my friend! I will be glad when you are over your fear of flying and come out to see me for awhile. YOu know you have the truck at your disposal for whereever you want to go!
ReplyDeleteLove and hugs,
Mona
Hi Mona! Oh, that's the cutest picture of you! Isn't that something after all these years to receive this photo from your friend. You're adorable! I never did learn to skate! :(
ReplyDeleteBe a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
Mona I was a big skating girl myself...what a great memory and picture to have...you look adorable doing the hokey pokey!!~
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful picture of such innocent fun times. You are adorable and having so much fun. You do the hokey pokey and you turn yourself around...
ReplyDeleteHappy memories.
Well Mona, look at you, you little hottie! My Aunt lived with us and went to high school in our tiny town. I was always doin' the hokey pokey with her! What a wonderful picture of you skatin' boppers.
ReplyDeleteGod bless and have a marvelous Monday!!!
I just found your blog, and your images and writing speak to my heat. It is a pleasant surprise to find someone who is a woman "of a certain age" blogging with all the youngsters. I enjoy their blogs, but at age 66, I find that what they are fantasizing about--old dishes and vintage appliances--I am just trying to remember.
ReplyDeletePlease keep on posting.
Oh how cute is that! It's priceless!...Christine
ReplyDeletesuch fun looking at your old photo.. imagine that! and look at you now, still beautiful and full of inspiring tale to tell.. you're one of my favourite bloggers here.. thanks for the inspiration. i hope i would age gracefully like you.. and yes, like a fine wine, that's how you are..
ReplyDeleteHow fun is that!
ReplyDeleteThe good Old Happy days of the 50's I remember them well. That local diner was The Best Spot Cafe. Mick & I used to go out to dinner there.Do you remember when the old Theater burned down?
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice rooster you got there.. nice spot.. I hope I could join Marty @ A STROLL THRU LIFE.. thanks for the inspiration.. i'll visit her now mona.. God bless..
ReplyDelete