Photo Booth, Pier 39, San Francisco, 1981

THE MORNING AFTER

Larry and I used to visit San Francisco quite frequently back then; usually I tagged along with him while he covered stories in the Bay Area for the L.A. Times. We would always take a late flight back to Los Angeles ($50 round-trip via PSA) and drive from the airport directly to Dan Tana's in West Hollywood for dinner. We often rolled into Dan Tana's after midnight for a meal and some Perrier-Jouët Champagne - they were always very welcoming at any hour. It was electric, it was romantic, it was decadent. Good times.

I Love L.A.

A walk around our neighborhood.

[Photos taken with my iPhone using the Hipstamatic App]

Larry Armstrong

My husband with his mother Eva Mae Armstrong in Dallas, Texas. He is looking quite dapper, don't you think? He told me that his first and only bee sting happened right there - the bee came out from the bushes behind him and got him. Ack! Who knew then that he would become the accomplished photographer and artist he is today.

At the time this picture was taken I was a thousand miles to the northeast, newly born -cantankerous and demanding - waiting for him. Much like today.

Kumbaya 1967

Here I am leading some children in a song, accompanying them on my guitar. This was at church; I volunteered musically both at my church and at the Camarillo State Mental Hospital in 1967 - 1968. The boy to my immediate left had a crush on me which might explain why his chair is so close to mine, why I have that look on my face, and why his hands are in his lap.

Dave & Judy 1975

On April 5th, 1975, my friend Judy married my friend Dave, and this is a picture of them on their honeymoon in Tahiti. I remember their wedding well, and I remember helping Judy pick out her wedding dress and invitations. This last Monday was their 35th wedding anniversary. We've all been through a lot these last 35 years, but there they are - still together with two beautiful children. Happy Anniversary Dave and Judy! XXOO

Happy Easter

Mwahahahaha!

[Photo taken with my iPhone using Hipstamatic App]

Easter 1956

Easter Sunday, Grayslake, IL. That's my father William McDermott on the left next to my older sister Cathy the dragon, my mother Elizabeth McDermott in the spiffy polka dot dress with white collar and cuffs, and me in my crinolines, fancy dress, shiny shoes and Easter hat. My mother is grasping my wrist, my other hand is tightly clenched.

Our church was very modern for 1956, this is an area on the way upstairs to the pews in the loft. I loved it up there. I'd ditch the family, sit in the front row with my friends and drop rolled up pieces of paper torn from the offering envelopes down to the masses below, then we'd duck down so nobody saw us. People were very confused. In one incident services were halted while the pastor looked up and scolded us. This is when I learned to hold my nose so I wouldn't laugh and snort out loud. Killed my eyes, though.