Inspired by Aimee’s recent trip down memory lane, I’ve decided it’s been quite some time since I’ve posted any childhood photos.

I’ve decided to break it down into smaller pieces, though. Ideally, I will post an update each week. Though, I’m a bit shy about sharing my “awkward years” photos. I’ll see if I can find something I’m willing to share with the Internet. Otherwise, there may be some holes!

I was inspired to visit my old photo album after reviewing Aimee / Greeblemonkey’s recent vacation to the Grand Canyon, among other places.

(Hey, look — we visited the same tower! Of course, her photos are much better than those taken by me, at 11, with a point-and-shoot camera!)

Anyway, in August 1986 I believe we visited the following places (at least, these are the places I have photo evidence and/or vague memories of visiting):

• Sightseeing in Los Angeles
• Mission San Gabriel, San Gabriel, California
• Universal Studios
• San Diego Zoo
• Sequoia National Park
• Calico Ghost Town (Yermo, CA)
• Hoover Dam
• Bryce Canyon
• Grand Canyon
• Canyon De Chelly
• Four Corners
• Dinosaur National Monument
• Mormon Tabernacle
• Jackson Hole, Wyoming
• Yellowstone National Park

If my photos are in order, this would be the route we took:

I don’t have any dates on the photos, but I hope we took at least three weeks to do all that!

Too much for an 11-year-old to process at once?

Photo of Bryce Canyon, also taken by me in 1986. Actually, this one came out pretty good. (The Grand Canyon ones were kind of hazy)

March 29, 1975, a tiny baby was born.

She was an Aries, but her baby book says “Star Child of Gemini.” The book had been purchased in advance; she was two months premature.

Seventeen inches long, three pounds, nine ounces.

This picture was taken at about two weeks old, still under four pounds. She left the hospital May 1 at four pounds, 15 ounces.

This baby is me.

I’m sure it must have been really scary for my parents. I was their first child. Though, as far as I know, there weren’t any major health issues other than that I was so small.

Now that I’m “old,” birthdays really aren’t that meaningful; they are just another day.

But I am still reminded of how precarious my life began, and how grateful I am that I have always been healthy.

Happy birthday to me!

So I recently touched on the subject that I suffered through an awkward stage. I know, not unusual for adolescents.

I blame the majority of my downfall/self-esteem issues for the gigantic, ugly glasses I hid behind for years. Now, I will not be posting the worst of the worst. This is a decent sample photo:

I’m still kind of cute here. This is the summer of 1986, the summer before sixth grade. I was 11.

In sixth grade I decided I needed to cut hideous bangs so I could attempt to feather them. After the bangs came a fully-layered horrible haircut, complete with wings. (I stayed away from layers for a LONG time after growing that out!). I’m not ready to share those with the Internet, yet.

Anyway, back to the glasses. I was inspired to post this photo after viewing a recent post by Zandria, where she sported a pair of very similar glasses!

It got me thinking. Following these glasses, I had several other pairs of equally large frames. I believe I was told I needed large glasses in order to support my coke-bottle thick prescription.

Was it really necessary? Did somebody find it funny to make little, poor-sighted girls balance extremely large specs on their small noses? Was it just the evil style trends of the 80s?

Thank goodness for contact lenses and the thin lenses they can make now! I still don’t love wearing glasses, but at least when I have to, they don’t cover my entire face!

It was a card with a picture of two dogs on the front. It came from a kid at summer camp, expressing his feelings for me. I was fifteen, and this was the first time a boy had even paid any attention to me.

Unfortunately, he wasn’t the type of boy I wanted to pay attention to me. He was kind of quiet, kind of chubby. Work khaki pants and a blue button down shirt a lot. TO SUMMER CAMP.

He was kind of like Milhouse, actually.

Still, I was flattered. I didn’t save the card, though. I wish I had, because now, almost seventeen years later, whatever it said would be extremely amusing!