HAWAII 1965

My father's favorite posting was in Hawaii, and if he could have, I don't think he ever would have left. Even as his memories fade, he vividly recalls crying when he got orders to return to Charleston. Here are some pictures from 1965.

Beth and me behind the house on Oahu. We seem to be dressed in old white shirts, perhaps from Dad. Were we doctors? Why am I holding babydolls? This photo needs to be censored right now! :)

That trike could handle a lot. I am standing, Beth is driving, and Bobbie is sitting over the handlebars. And we could motor.

Dad holding Paul, who is probably less than a month old here. But why is he standing out in the street?

Beth and I sitting in/on the old Jeep Wagoneer, our stalwart wagon for many years.

Beth sitting on Dad's bike. That was the two-car garage/single apartment that stood on the back of our property. My Dad offered to let me stay free there if I was accepted to university of Hawaii for graduate school. I didn't take up the offer.

TIDD KIDS 1969

Herewith three shots of the Tidd kids in 1969.

I am centered in this shot, wearing a navy enlisted man's white sailor's cap. Beth is to my right, hiding her face. Bobbie looks like she is singing, or ready to take a big bit out of something. Paul is on the floor looking back at me.

Mother having dinner with her brood. We had those ladder-back chairs forever, and I don't know where they are now. To my mom's left are Beth and myself; to the right, Bobbie and Paul.

I think the following picture may have been taken while we were on a trip to Florida. Perhaps we were staying with some family Dad knew. I recognize the green navy bunk mattresses that we used in the back of the Wagoneer when we traveled. I am looking at the camera, while Paul squirms and giggles. Beth and Bobbie are hiding from the camera, methinks.

TROOP 68 ON TRAIL

I never hiked on the Appalachian Trail, and was out of Scouting before my younger brother Paul joined Troop 68, out of the Keystone Methodist Church. My brother earned his Eagle Scout, and probably was a much better hiker/camper than I ever was. The Scoutmaster for Paul was Doc Sammons, and I think my Dad was Assistant Scoutmaster. In August 1982 the boys hit the Appalachian Trail, at least a portion of it. In this picture, captured near Neels Gap in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Georgia, Sammons is in the rear. My Dad anchors the right side of the group, standing next to Paul. What I want to know is how the guy with the light blue shirt was not carrying a pack? Hopefully my brother, upon seeing this, will fill in the names of the other boys.

FAMILY 1970s

Herewith a couple pics from the 1970s.

Mom and Dad standing behind some friends in the family room. I am not sure, but I think the woman sitting was named Barbi or something like that, and she had been a butcher and retired to Florida. My siblings will have to refresh my memory. This was taken in 1978. [The following update was provided by my sister Bobbie: "That is Granny Barbara, a woman Dad met while on patrol in Lutz. She married a man named John Seik and moved back to Pennsylvania. After her death he married the lady in the second picture, cannot remember her name. Both ladies were adopted by our Girl Scout troop. The second pic is from her wedding."]

This shot comes from 1976, which makes me 16. I do not seem so amused, and I am rocking the comb-over! Yikes. So NOT attractive. My Dad looks pretty dapper, and I have no idea who my little brother Paul is hugging. We must have been going to a Girl Scout event, because Bobbie is decked out in her class As. Look at all those badges.

STEPHEN FOSTER

In 1973 Dad took us kids up to Stephen Foster State Park. Here are some pics from that excursion.

I am thirteen here, still fairly trim.

One of the museums. I like museums.

I think this is a bell (or possibly carillon) tower.

They had a small boat ride on the Suwannee River back then, I do not think so today. I don't know how many ships they had in service, but ours was the GLENDY BURKE, named after a character in one of his songs.

I sit to the right, with Bobbie and Paul, as we head off down the river to adventure.

DOLPHINS

Although my exact dating may be off, in the Summer of 1969 (it could have been 1970)Dad took the family on a vacation trip down to Florida. My siblings may flesh out the story, but I know we visited a few tourist traps, such as some sort of sea animal related place (I don't think it was the better-known Sea World)and a Seminole Indian living history site. Here are two shots of the kids sitting on a cheesy floating platform, I suppose in readiness to be amazed by the porpoises.

Here we are, ready for launch on our what seems to be flimsy craft. You can just see my towheaded skull on the right rear, as well as Beth's head. I think Paul was sitting between us. Although it is hard to make out, Bobbie seems to be sitting in front row with white shirt and white socks.

There seems to be more collective worry about the seaworthiness of this baby barge. I don't appear to be impressed.

PAUL 1969

Herewith a couple of shots that include my little brother Paul, who would have been about five in these pictures. He was such a cutie.

Paul must have been attending a birthday party, it appears. He is the little tyke watching the woman, identified as Carole McCabe, a family friend, as she pours a glass of what appears to be juice.

Here Paul models with Ernie and Barbara Nordtvedt, although it is hard to tell exactly where the shot is take. Undoubtedly there is some connection to Dad, as it appears Ernie is Ernest Richard Nordtvedt, who achieved Captain rank and later went on to become an academic in New Orleans.

DAD & PAUL

My father was moved into an assisted living facility this year, as he struggles with Alzheimer's. Although no diseases are easy to deal with, this one seems particularly cruel, especially when it attacks a friendly, funny. vibrant man. His wife Sharon deserves every bit of credit for having shouldered the burdens of helping Dad along over the past few years. He's always been lucky in the women who loved him. This picture comes from (I think) the wedding of Oxana, Paul's daughter, last year. It is a good one that I like and wanted to share.

PAUL AND GRANDMA TIDD

Herewith a picture of Paul playing on the Australian longboard in Keystone Lake. I don't remember grandmother swimming, but here is proof she did. This picture probably is from around 1974. The dock in the background belonged to the Wachtler's.

PAUL AND ME

My little brother sent along a couple of photographs of us from a few years back. I share them here:

I'm likely 9 or 10, and Paul is 3 or 4. Not sure where this was taken at, but most likely at our Edgewater Island residence in Charleston, S.C.

Roughly the same age, possible a tad older. We must have been attending some Christmas event, possibly on the base.

YOUNG PAUL

Herewith some pictures of my little brother Paul Brook Tidd, mostly from the 1980s. Plus a cute baby picture.

DAD

Dad sitting in our kitchen on Keystone; must have been late, cause Mom looks like she is about ready to hit the hay. I think this picture was taken after the wedding of my sister Beth, so they may have been pooped from all the activities of the day.

Dad, with my brother Paul (who is about fifteen in this pic) goofing behind him.