Project: Upon turning 50 years old on August 16, 2020, Dave Olson (me, hello) is posting a photo (or maybe photos) a day / per year – starting with 1970 with intent of chronicling existence through various primary evidence sourced from studio portraits, class photos, ID / passport photos, or occasionally other “casual/group/random” shots when the above don’t exist in my archive (note: not “artificial intelligence,” really me, pulled from shoeboxes, journals, wallets and whatnot – diligently scanned and dated via glasses and haircuts, lightly annotated).
Artifact: postcard from Canadian Jamboree, 1981 (CJ81, Kananaskis Country, AB), frontArtifact: postcard from Canadian Jamboree, 1981 (CJ81, Kananaskis Country, AB) back
Stardust was a sometimes fantastically popular – sometimes completely not – rollerskating rink/center/attraction located right at Whalley exchange, near Surrey Place Mall in Surrey, BC. Was often locations for school fundraisers, youth group activities and general hi-jinks as the general lack of supervision and dim lighting made it the place for many “firsts” of kids of the area.
A lot of nostalgia still attached to this place which I believe finally closed down after almost closing down many many times.
#daveo50 ~ 1980 (birthday) / Surrey, BC, CanadaProject: Upon turning 50 years old on August 16, 2020, Dave Olson (me, hello) is posting a photo a day per years staring with 1970 on June 17 with intent of chronicling existence through various evidence. Primarily sourced from studio portraits, class photos, ID / passport photos, or occasionally other “casual/group/random” shots when the above don’t exist in my archive (note: not “artificial intelligence,” really me, pulled from shoeboxes, journals, wallets and whatnot – diligently scanned and dated via glasses and haircuts, lightly annotated).
The past few days we’ve witnessed a powerful transition of life as Ichiro’s great-grandmother Tomiko Fujita left this realm at 94 years old.
She is the widow of grandfather Ichiro who died over 4 decades ago at 49 years old. She passed a few hours after we formally registered the new lil Ichiro’s name at the City Office.
Her body went through the traditional Buddhist rituals in the house with monks, attendants, preparers and so on coming and going over 4 days with relics, artifacts, momentos, flowers, altars and so on / conducting prayers & chants plus bells, incense… all in the same tatami room where Ryoko & Ichi had rested hours before.
There’s more to say about this whole experience and the incredible dignity and respect and intention with which she was treated – but for now, I will say: as in the Buddhist consideration, her spirit lingers here for 40 some odd days after the body diminishes and feeling the life force transmitting between generations was undeniable.
PS watching my dear in-laws’ graceful tenacity during the scant days between dropping their daughter at clinic to give birth to baby coming home & settling in, then FiL’s mother passing & ceremonies… was a revelation of love.
Project: Upon turning 50 years old on August 16, 2020, Dave Olson (me, hello) is posting a photo (or maybe photos) a day / per year – starting with 1970 with intent of chronicling existence through various primary evidence sourced from studio portraits, class photos, ID / passport photos, or occasionally other “casual/group/random” shots when the above don’t exist in my archive (note: not “artificial intelligence,” really me, pulled from shoeboxes, journals, wallets and whatnot – diligently scanned and dated via glasses and haircuts, lightly annotated). Continue reading #daveo50 ~ 1979 / 50 years > days > photos→
As I recall, students were given a day pass at the end of the year for the “Pacific National Exhibition (PNE)” which has gone through periods of popularity and decline… There’s also a “play land” with rides and amusements but the fair, which generally happens around my birthday in August, features barns of animals, hawkers promoting new products, competitive plants, endless food stands, various musical acts and popular things like pig races and lumberjack games.
This is one such pass, probably from the late 1970s. Oh and maybe “Hula Whoop” was the “theme” for that year… (note to self: research this more, or not…) Note: this was also a way to get parents to pony up for tickets to haul their kid along
