Photos from Rick's Childhood Scrapbook

Standing on the brick planter by the front entrance. I'm two years old at the new house at 9 San Juan Drive in Salinas.
The house is still there.

Walter, me, and John, on the front lawn at Grandfather's house.

Me, John, and Christina in the play court of the house on San Juan Drive with Odel, the maid.

Rick, cousin Peter stong, John, and Walter.

Larger copy of the image above.

On vacation with the family in Virginia City, Nevada.

Portrait of Mom, Lynne Wagner, nee Evelyn Margaret Reeves.

My parents built the house on San Juan Drive when I was a year old and we lived on Main Street in a rented house.

The Salinas Californian printed all kinds of local interest stories. I'm in there somewhere, at Grandfather's "ranch."

Another one from the newspaper. Easter in Salinas.

I and John in the requisite visit to Santa, in San Francisco, I think.

The schools back then celebrated Valentine's day with parties, etc.

Kid-made Valentine and Christmas cards.

Card that came with a plaster hand impression, I think.

A formal family portrait for Christmas cards.

The scrapbook (Mom's writing) say I'm with my goldfish, but it's really my pet turtle.

Same day with Christina and Dad.

Dad built this "telephone pole" in the back yard for us kids to play on.

I was very proud of the paper Christmas tree I made.

Dad with Aunt Frieda, likely in San Francisco where she and Walter Braun lived.

Let it be known that I made it out of kindergarten at Lincoln School in Salinas in spite of my fascination with the
construction work going on outside the window. I had to be told several times to stop watching and go play with the others.

Mom, Walter, Grandmother Reeves, Christina, me, and John at Christmas. Must have been early to mid sixties.

Wiley Reeves, Walter, me, Uncle Jerry Politzer, and Uncle Ed Reeves. Behind us are the encyclopedias I would read sometimes.
The article on chess had a dozen classic games that I played through. It's what got me interested in playing chess seriously.

Our family with the Christmas tree.

In a children's parade (Kiddie Capers) in Salinas.

With Dad at the boat show in the Cow Palace in San Francisco.

A school-made Christmas card.

Formal Christmas card photo with baby Reeves Wagner. He later developed a brain tumor and was severely brain damaged
in an operation to save his life. He became a ward of the State and lived about 40 years in a hospital, dying in the 1990s.

John, me, and Walter in a Christmas Santa photo, perhaps at Macy's in San Francisco.

The big man and I.

Christmas photo.

Kindergarten at Lincoln School, back row center.

I think that's Jeff Pulford, son of Dr. Pulford, one of Dad's friends and colleagues who also lived on San Juan Drive.

With my Christmas teddy bear. The grand piano indicates it's the music room at Grandmother's house.

First grade report card. I was only a mediocre schollar until I attended USC in the 1990s (3.8 GPA). Late to bloom?

The mediocre truth. It got worse as I grew older until I almost failed my senior year of high school.

First grade photo, just to the right of teacher Miss Latimore.

My first plane flight from MRY to LAX to visit cousin Peter Stong for two weeks in the summer.

Family photo with baby Reeves.

Ditto.

Ditto, lower resolution.

A valentine for Mommy.

Cards.

Birthday card from cousins.

Walter and me with beautiful Aunt Beverly Politzer, Mom's younger sister.

Walter and I playing in our pajamas.

Another dreaded report card.

The inside data.

Second grade at Montery Park, a newly built school in our neighborhood. I'm just to the left of teacher Mrs. Rogers who lived
on Romie Lane. Frank and Patty Katner to my right. Frank was in the same grade and had Down's syndrome, I think.

Waiting for the bus for YMCA camp in the summer. When Mom was a little girl, she lived in a house next to the water tower.

The camp truck loaded with luggage.

I really don't remember this, must be at the camp.

With Christina and Dad's Buick in the front yard.

A post card from Dad on his way to Africa for a safari when I was in the third grade (1958).

Most likely while visiting the Garins at Aroyo Seco.

Ditto.

Camping, possibly by the creek at Grandfather's ranch.

Wagner kids with Mom's station wagon at Grandfather's house.

Vacation souvenir.

Disneyland souvenir.

At the Salinas YMCA with Walter.

Ditto.

Marineland souvenir.

Birthday party in the play court.

One of my favorite toys, a tommy gun cap gun with fake drum magazine. Back yard of the house on San Juan Drive.

Eight years old.

Not sure of the people nor occasion. No recollection.

Saint Paul's Episcopal Church's rose window was visible from our back yard. I was confirmed there at the age of 12 by Bishop Pike.

Acanthus blooming by the back fence.

Birthday card from Bill Lund.

Inside of the card.

A souvenir bank account in Kenya, amount, one shilling. Dad opened souvenir accounts for all of us.

Inside of the bank book.

Mother's day card.

Third grade class picture, I'm on the back row far right.

Breakfast with Mommy.

I was a wolf Cub Scout.

Mom used to take me to concerts.

Summer vacation car trip to Yellowstone National Park, 1958.

Souvenir booklet.

Souvenir from Reno.

Nevada souvenir.

Yellowstone souvenir.

A valentine for Mommy.

Lake Tahoe souvenir.

Airplane.

Fourth grade class with Mr. Webster. I'm in the striped shirt in the front row, eyes right.

Another dreaded report card.

Nothing really bad, but I caught hell for getting Cs.

Christmas at Grandmother's house.

With Mom in San Francisco. She took me to the opera a few times.

With Christmas tree at home.

At home by the fire.

Report card for the fourth grade.

Airplane. Could be Dad returning from Africa at MRY.

Christina and me.

Me and Peter Stong on a fake bucking bronco, or maybe a burro.

Visiting the Stongs in the summer.

Mom was actually a decent cook.

Goofing for the photo with a quick draw banana.

Family photo.

Walter, Christina, and me with a neighbor boy and some African animal trophys.

Christmas card for Mommy.

Souvenir of Knott's Berry Farm with the Stongs.

A big pine tree for Christmas.

Betty and Uncle Ed in the foliage at Grandmother's house.

Fifth grade, 1959.

Class photo with Mr. Thompson, who told Navy destroyer stories. I'm in red plaid shirt with eyes closed.

I could sprint!

My favorite all time toy was an Erector Set.

Not sure what this is about but I think it's me in my bedroom.

Still playing with the mechanical stuff with my teddy bear.

The play hall with some of Dad's African animal trophies. That cape buffalo was shot by Dad while trying to overturn their truck.

With neighbor Col. Pennypacker and his wife. He retired from Fort Ord and bought the house next door.

Me and Teddy.

Reading comic books for free at Food City on Main Street.

Playing with vacuum tubes, flash bulbs, and balsa wood on my desk in my bedroom.

Dad took us on several horse pack trips via Mineral King over Black Rock Pass to the Big Five Lakes.

Everyone likes cat pictures.

Playing with home made battle ships on the bed spread.

At Grandmother's house with cousins for Christmas.

Sixth grade class picture. Second from right, next to bottom row.

Souvenir bank deposit slip, Kenya.

Fifth grade report card.

Rather undistinguished. Emphasis on lacks effort. I hated school work.

First attempt at journalism.

We (Walter and I) basically plagiarized the comic strips from the Salinas Californian.

Mrs. Latimore again.

Airline tag again.

Mits and Mom with Andrea and me at a Wedding for Reeves family. Reception at the Reeves house on San Juan Drive.

Again.

And again, higher resolution.

Mom and Christina in Hawaii.

Tim.

Robert.

Robert, higher resolution.

Robert's graduation? I wasn't invited.