Sunday, January 07, 2007

Yes, It's Me





Picture # 1 — I caught a break with this photo. My face is hidden by a balloon (and please refrain from comparing this ballon to anything unseemly.) I am in my Brownie uniform. My not-so-little tummy is straining at the belt.

Picture # 2 — Why, oh why, was it the style to tuck in shorts and blouses back then? It only served to emphasize my no waist/chunk look.

Picture # 3 — A two-fisted banana eater. Note the tight fit of the seersucker pants encompassing those chubby thighs.


And the question is, why am I posting such pictures of myself? Well, Patricia Storms (of BookLust fame) and I have had a back and forth kind of thing going re: our “chubby” childhoods. We’re not in a contest as to who was the chubbier kid. I don’t think. And if we were, I think I’d win — hands down. (See Patricia’s pictures in her December 10th post.) It’s all been in the spirit of good fun as we reminisce about our pasts. Old comic book characters such as Baby Huey and Little Lotta have been dragged into the fray for comparison purposes.

I promised Patricia that once I’d mastered the scanner, I’d show her my chubby childhood pictures. As soon as she noticed that I had mastered the damned thing on my “Check It Out” post of January 5th, she “outed” me with her comment re: my “Baby Huey pics.” I’d planned to send her the pictures privately, but after a wee bit of Double-Dog Dare You (we are so mature) I agreed to go public with the tantalizing shots.

So here ya’ go, Patricia. Enjoy. Gloat. Laugh. Whatever. I’m just very grateful no one in my family ever took a picture of me in ballet class (my career lasted about one year). I was one very plump Sugar Plum fairy — CLOMP, CLOMP, TWIRL, TWIRL, SPLAT.

I’ll say this much for the both us. Judging from our pictures, we never tried to emulate celebrity scarecrow figures at such young, impressionable ages. It wasn’t the thing to do back then — thank god.




16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Cute cute cute...

But I don't think you are all that chubby in those pix. I did a post a while back about old childhood pictures and I posted one of myself with my pants hiked up to my ribs with everything tucked in...what a terrible fashion trend that was!

Anonymous said...

trish - there are worse ones of me - I just can't find them - honestly!
When did you post your childhood picture?

Angel said...

You were so cute! Baby Huey..I love it, but really, you must try very, very hard to be nicer to yourself Beth! You are fan-freakin-tastic!!!

Attila the Mom said...

Ha! I had to do a double take with that first photo!

Anonymous said...

beth - I actually was called Baby Huey by my older sister's friend. (My middle name is Hughes.) Kids can be cruel...


attila - I knew someone would look at that picture the wrong way! What a classic, ay? (That's the first time I've used the Canadian expression "ay" on my blog.)

oreneta said...

I think they are great photos, the second one looks strikingly like a friend I grew up with. You aren't that chubby in them...you look so cute.

Anonymous said...

I have to agree...not that chubby...and just too cute for words!! And um...yes that 'thing' hanging in front of your face is a real conversation-starter, I must say!

I have GOT to find some bonafide chubby pics of me, so that I may 'out-chub' you! I know I've got an old grade school class photo of me that will win hands-down.

Thanks so much for posting these! You are a brave lass. And you made my day!

Anonymous said...

Haha I had to go back in my archives and check...Sept 13th I posted a picture of me as a chubby 12 year-old. The clothes are so dorky it makes me laugh every time I see it

Anonymous said...

oreneta - Trust me, if I were going for cute, I'd have chosen from another age. I was actually tempted to post a cute one to offset these. I remember the rotund tummy under those clothes.

patricia - OMG. If you're going to go with the old class photos, I will win. I will "out-chub" you. (Are we deranged?)

Anonymous said...

trish - I checked and I can't help it. I'm grinning. Those pants are pretty high...
The one with you with your hands in your pockets is the best - and I mean in a good way. Very pretty.

We all must have been pretty oblivious of our "figures" to pose the way we did. Ah, youth...

Nomad said...

I love the photos, I think you are really sweet looking...but who is the kid with the codom for a head...

(ok someone had to say it...)

Better than a chubby 40 something no??

You guys all seem to be doing fine in that department...

(AND you are all very brave, I'll have to try to dredge up some good ones...)

:-)

Anonymous said...

nomad - Condom head is me! I'm in the Brownie uniform behind the birthday boy.

And, yeah, dig out some good old photos of yourself. Join us!

Anonymous said...

For the record and the final word- Beth was NEVER as chubby as she is suggesting!! She WAS a cutie. However, now I understand your love for baby food Bananas! Okay, so which friend called you Baby Huey??
None of you will ever know how just fantastic she really is!!

Anonymous said...

"the c. one now" - It was your friend Cathy Giffin who called me Baby Huey. (Canfield, Don Mills.) I remember. I also remember that I could not fit into some of your hand-me-downs.
(And, yeah, that's weird about bananas. Can't eat them now.)

Angel said...

BTW, I thought that balloon was a big boob hanging over the table!

Anonymous said...

beth - it does look a lot like a boob - but certainly no resemblance to mine - then or now!