Remembering my first Birthday Party

I don't remember a birthday party until I was 5-6 years old.  My family were living in Great Falls, Montana.  Known for the giant smelter and smoke stack, and, oh yes...the Falls of the Missouri.  Lewis and Clark, the Gathering at the Falls!   You get it.  We were living the Donna Reed life style, in a new housing sub division.  Our home was furnished from the downtown Paris store.   Mom hated living thru the depression, wanted all new Danish modern furniture.  My brother Joe and I attended the brand new school.  We walked seven or eight blocks, together, and sometimes alone.  No fear of being snatched up by a hobo.  " Don't talk to anyone you don't know" Mom would say.  " Come straight home after class, I have bridge club." Mom added giving us lunch money. These were the days when afternoon bridge club included cocktails.   I thought we were living the charmed life.  Dad traveled all week and Mom ran the house and played bridge.  My birthday?  Oh yes, my birthday!
My birthday has always conflicted with Labor Day.  Mom would tell a tired joke of the  hours of labor she endured ... It was the end of summer and most of my friends were still on vacation.  And always conflicted  with the most dreaded time of the year...back to school!   But this birthday was going to be very special.  Mom decorated,mailed invitations ,baked a cake with a nickel inside it.   You know if you found the nickel you got a prize.  (dental care).   I was a  little nervous about this gathering, and how Mom could pull it off!  But it was a sensation!  A beautiful outside affair, with balloons and streamers.  My surprise gift of an three ring inflatable pool was resting in the sun, with a red bow scotch taped to it.
Only once did it get awkward.  After opening the third of ping pong sets, I said " well, I guess we could use these to flip pancakes."  Mom called me inside.  This was the coming of age discussion about receiving ugly gifts in life, and how to fake loving them.

I am standing in the center of this early gathering picture.  Two pretty girls on my left, and me eyeing the guys...hummmm.

Even my brother Joe was trapped into attending. He is the one on the right, checking for the nickel in his cake.

This is me in my orange deluxe pool ...after the party. 
Even today I wonder how the rumor of me liking or wanting to ever play ping pong got started.   Of course this is the party that I realized I liked alot of attention.  I may have performed " I'm a little peanut on a railroad track" to my captured guests.  I was so intoxicated with all the adoration.  This would later prove my down fall on many occasions.
So today, I fondly remember  that birthday summer day.  When life was so perfect and carefree.  And turn the page on another year.  I can hear Rick preparing the dinner meal and setting the table .  Hopefully he won't be using any streamers......