I was born into the realm of the Wild West when Elvis was king, at the height of social freedoms which were slipping steadily down into the mists of abandon. Unlimited alcohol and tobacco consumption were a household norm for many families, with few or no suspicions about their ill effects — gross and subtle.
My first eight years took me along an often bumpy road, with the scary shadows of evermore chaos lurking just around the next bend. But there was also love. I grew up with some delightfully humorous and caring souls. My best memories still shine from those joyous occasions when we, once a year, exchanged presents, had fun together, and temporarily forgot all our fears and worries: Christmas Days!
Just before my eighth Christmas in 1965, my Dad returned home, sober, after a four year absence. From that time on, everything seemed to get more prosperous and abundant — including the number of siblings. Within another three years we would be eight brothers and sisters celebrating at home together!
I was then blessed to live through a period of wealth and wellbeing that most children in the world will never know. Looking back at my long climb as a human being, I recognize how very lucky I’ve been this time around.
May the liberating Innocence, that we call Luck, fill the hearts of good people, everywhere.
Wishing you and yours Love and Light at this special time,
your friend in this abundant moment,
Ed
(We were, oldest to youngest: Dad, Mom, Darlene, Cheryl, Rick, Ed, Glenn, David, Allan and Don. Christmases were also celebrated at Nana and Grandpa’s place, Mom’s Finnish parents. Almost half-a-century later we would be three more, Tia, Karen and Cliff, senior siblings divided from us by Dad’s first divorce.)
https://www.facebook.com/edward.saugstad/media_set?set=a.10155257909416545.1073741890.583641544&type=3
Darlene, Eddie, Rick and Cheryl
Darlene, Eddie, Rick and Cheryl
Rick, Eddie, Darlene, Grandpa, Glenn and Cheryl
David and Glenn, Darlene, Rick, Cheryl and Eddie
Darlene, Eddie, Rick, Glenn and Cheryl
Rick, Mom, Nana, Glenn, Eddie, Darlene and Cheryl, Grandpa and David
Rick, Cheryl, Eddie, Glenn, Darlene and David
Eddie’s haircut, May 1965
(a month before the end of grade one, and still half a year before that special Christmas that marked the end of Dad’s long drunken absence)
Glenn, David and Eddie
Darlene, Mom, Cheryl, Rick, Eddie, Glenn and David
David, Glenn and Eddie
Cheryl and Darlene, Glenn, Eddie, Rick and David
Darlene, Rick and Cheryl (the ‘Big Kids’) and Eddie, Glenn and David (the ‘Little Kids’)
Cheryl, Glenn and David
Darlene, Mom and Dad, Eddie, Nana, Rick, Cheryl, David and Glenn
Eddie, Rick, Darlene, Dad, Allan, Mom, Cheryl, Glenn and David
Eddie, Rick, Darlene, Dad, Allan, Mom, Cheryl, Glenn and David
Rick, Allan, Mom and Nana
Allan and Cheryl
Glenn, David and Eddie
Allan, Glenn, Eddie, Don and David
Darlene, Dad, Eddie, Don and Rick
Rick, Cheryl, Darlene and Eddie, Dad with David, Mom with Don, Allan and Glenn
Glenn, Eddie, David, Allan and little Don
FUN CHAOS!
Eddie (Ed the Head) and Don
Allan, Glenn, Ed and Don
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