My mother Macalyne, my grandmother Brownie, and my uncle George. Christmas that year meant the end of the Great Depression and the beginning of World War II -- a momentous time in our nation's history. This photo, for me, represents all the goodness and simplicity, and the uncertainty, of those days. We have come a long way since then, for better or worse.

Those two kids grew up to be perhaps the most influential speech pathologist in the world as a professor at Vanderbilt and Purdue (Mom), and a surgeon, professor, and President of the American Trauma Society (George). Fairly successful parenting by my grandparents, I'd say.

Photo is from a large-format negative. View full size.