Photo Memory - BJ with others

As I continue to scan in all the photos I have collected over the years, I have continually modified the way I am trying to organize the photos. I have created groups by individuals, and of course central to that are photos of me. I have shared some of the single photos of me on Facebook, and I would like to share here a few of photos of me with others.

The first photo is me, not even four months old, being held by my Grandmother, Helen Rheaume Shackett. I know the photo was taking at our Weybridge Street house in Middlebury by the banister behind us. The stairs are steep in the Provoncha house, and many a drunk fell down those stairs into the cactus my mom kept at the bottom. Tom moved the bathroom from the second floor to the first when he purchased the house, so now only those spending the night get to go up those stairs.

BJ with Grandma Shackett

The next photo is when I turned one in the summer of 1958. I lived at the Weybridge St house all my life through high school. I am in some heavy duty diapers, sharing a playpen with my cousin Mary who is a few months older than me. Keeping an eye on us is my Uncle Moose (Maurice Provoncha) and my Uncle Ken (Kenneth Provoncha).  Uncle Moose has his Esso shirt on, the gas station he ran on Main Street in Middlebury until his death. I am assuming there might be beers hidden behind the kids...

BJ & cousin Mary watched by Uncle Moose and Uncle Ken

 Although I am not in the next photo, it is still my first birthday party. In the background again is Uncle ken and his wife, Aunt Ellie. The four kids anxiously waiting for ice cream and cake are my cousin Charley Provoncha, cousin Pam Provoncha, brother John Provoncha, and neighbor Nancy Benjamin. Not sure who is in the foreground.

BJ's First Birthday

Again, I am not in the next photo, but at is still my birthday party. This shows we are at the Weybridge St house on the left (with mom's clothesline pulley), and the garage on the right. In the background is Gorham's barn, no longer there.

Uncle Ken is leading the game with neighbor Nancy Benjamin in the circle. Going clockwise from Uncle Ken are my siblings Pat, Tom, and John. Then there is cousin Charley and his older sister Marcia. Nancy's sister Robin Benjamin is next. And then my cousin Pam holding her dad's hand.

Playing circle games with Uncle Ken

As I got older, I started to ride the stroller. Here we are at the Vermont State Fair park in Rutland Vermont. I am not sure if we were at the Fair or some other event. I really like my brother Tom's hat. I am pretty sure my brother John is looking out the fence.

BJ in stroller with John & Tom

In the stroller again. This time I have no idea where we are but I know that is my dad Harold pushing me.

BJ in stroller with his father Harold

Dad liked to hit the photo booths. I think this first one is in York Beach Maine. I could be wrong.

BJ and his father Harold

The second one might be in Daytona Beach Florida. Regardless, it a nice picture of me and my dad.

Photo Booth: BJ & Harold

As I got older, I started to spend some summer time in Easthampton Massachusetts. That is where Uncle Ken lived with his family. My cousin Jim and I loved to spend time in the pool. Yes, the ice disappears in the summer.

Cousin Jim and BJ in pool at Uncle Ken's house

We use to take trips to Montreal in Canada all the time.  This trip we had gone to a ballgame at Jarry Park where the Expos played. This day in 1971 we were going to see the Expos play the San Fransisco Giants. They had a player named Willie Mays. These photos were taken before we got to the park. Dad liked to go to Mount Royale and see the city from above. The next two photos are me with my mom Stella, looking down at the Saint Lawrence River and the grand city of Montreal.

BJ and Stella on Mount Royale in Montreal

BJ and Stella

In my Junior year of High School, I had the honor of being selected Junior Marshall by the graduating class of 1974. My parent in this honor was good friend Laurie Ross. This past summer, at the Neshobe Member-Guest, I was sitting at a table with my brother Tom and good friend Dave Munson. I told Munson that the three of us had something in common. Tom was the Junior Marshall for the class of 1972, Munson did it for Tom's class of 1973, and I did it for Munsie's class. Another round for the group!

Laurie & BJ as Junior Marshalls for the class of 1974

I have no idea where the next picture was taken but it was with good friends. I was wearing my famous Football tee shirt that Mr. Eddy thinks I wore every day of Senior year. Doug Waterman is in the middle and Ted Panicucci is on the right.

BJ, Doug & Ted share a drink at unknown party

Mr. Eddy's note in my Yearbook

I hope he was making a joke....

Our American Field Service student in my senior year was Gunilla Holma from Sweden. We became good friends and I had the privilege of escorting her to the prom in the spring. Even after I moved to Florida, Gunilla and her sister Birgitta came and visited me. I still keep in touch with her to this day through FaceBook. We were a cute couple....

Gunilla & BJ at Prom

Speaking of couples, I dated Wendy Greenberg for over two years while I was at UVM. This photo is in front of our dormitory at Coolidge Hall on Redstone campus. I spent three years there in room 101.

BJ & Wendy in front of Coolidge Hall

Since my parents had abandoned me in Vermont when I went to school, and moved to Florida, at least I had a great place to go for winter break. Here is me with mom in front of the trailer they bought, located near the Pineda Causeway north of Melbourne Florida. The trailer park is no longer there.

BJ & Stella

Back at school, I was still with Wendy. This photo was taken by Dave Mela, one of the Coolidge Hall residents on the first floor. This was in room 101.

BJ, Wendy & teddy bear.

The next year I visited Florida, Dad got the idea to drive the VW van down to Key West. It was a camper van with the pop up tent. Here are two photos of mom and I. I had just bought that tee shirt and had to put it on...

Stella & BJ outside van in Key West

BJ & Stella in Key West

The last picture representing the life of BJ through college, is a photo of me with my cousin Joan Carey. Her mom was my Aunt Peasoup and sister to my mom. Joan has a twin brother Jon. Both of them still live in the Melbourne area. This was a visit to the Boardwalk in Indialantic.

Well, that ends my stroll (get it, I was in a stroller earlier) through memories from photos. I am finishing the next set which covers my adult life. I figured this BLOG is a good place to put some stories with the sights.
I which I was as skinny now as I was then....