Magnificent Seven
Mom and Dad had seven children. I am the only girl and the second to the oldest. In birth order: Jim, me, Bill, Rick, Dan, Sam and Glen. Dan and Sam are twins. There is less than an 11 years difference in age between Jim and Glen.
Glen has been calling us the "Magnificent Seven" for quite some time. I'm not sure when or why he started that but, it does seems appropriate. The picture below was actually titled "Harris Motley Seven" by our Aunt JoAn -- this is probably much closer to the truth!
We were last all together at the same place and time at the Helm, Harris & Sutton family reunion in Spokane, Washington in June 2010. That was the first time that we were all together since Mom died in May 2000. Dad, both our step mothers (June and Neva), half brother Paul, half sister Sally and step brother Nicky were also there. Nearly 100 people attended this reunion and it was wonderful seeing so many family members, many for the very first time.
Standing left to right: Rick, Jim & Sam
Sitting left to right: Bill, Connie, Dan & Glen
June 20, 2010
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How wonderful that you and your brothers meet regularly, Connie. I hope you have started writing about your childhood days and inviting them to comment about your recollections. Dad was the eldest of 11 children, with 22 years to his youngest brother, who remembers Dad as a 'young, golden haired giant (he was 6'61/2" tall!)who always played practical jokes on other family members'!
Nice photo Connie. I was 2nd oldest of 10. Mom had us "top 5" then 3 miscarriages, then had the "bottom 5", they so not like to be called. Because of the 3 year break my parents were able to raise top 5 one way and the bottom five another. We got the belt and they got the time outs. It never made a difference. We were a lot to handle. Interesting focus groups though right?
Although we were close in age, there was a division in how we were raised also. The oldest three and the youngest four. I think it had to do with family economics and that our parents divorced shortly after the youngest was born. The younger four each went to college out of high school. Mom was better able to afford it by then plus they each got scholarships and loans. Mom was able to provide a better lifestyle because she returned to school, became a computer programer/analyst and encouraged college.
