Once Upon a Time… the Morris Kids & Storybook Forest

  

I look at this old photo & smile, because I have a dorky memory and tend to hang on to unimportant things.  And as clear as a blue sky, I can remember what was going on here.

My sisters Shawn & Donda, my brother Steve & me, June 1972

Steve (who was a little over 6 at the time) asked the “Old Lady Who Lives in a Shoe” why she wasn’t inside where she belonged, and without even looking at him, answered with one word.  “Mice.”   Mom snapped the photo and Steve’s goofy expression was caught for posterity.

For those not familiar with Pennsylvania’s attractions, Storybook Forest was (I think still is) a picturesque, wooded park in Ligonier, Pa—about 50-60 miles east of Pittsburgh.  There’s no rides, rather none that I can remember, but is near a traditional amusement park, Idlewild Park.   You’re basically on a tour of Mother Goose rhymes, most of them lifesize settings & statues, with some real-life actors thrown in.  (Mother Goose, Goldilocks, the Lady in a Shoe above, etc.) 

Shortly after entering the Forest, we were approached by a girl wearing a red cloak with a hood, and a wicker basket on her arm.  When she introduced herself & offered us a cookie, I shuddered inside.  Not because she was about to get eaten by a wolf—she looked like a Salem witch from ‘Crowhaven Farm’, a tv-movie I’d seen recently!

ANYWAY, you’re probably thinking “Doug what the hell?”  and I know, I know—but I was going thru some old family vacation photos the other night, and found some of our visit to this trippy wood.   Just thought I’d share ‘em!

Dad can hardly wait (just kidding) to walk us through this giant storybook

I think this giant maniacal jack-in-the box scares me more now than it did then

Old King Cole was a merry old soul… so why does my little sister Donda look like she’s just seen a ghost?

Tiny house living, Mother Goose style

Donda-Lin was very pleased she was the only one who could fit thru Alice’s keyhole—now she’s 2 inches taller than me

Y’know what?  I’ve seen this photo a hundred times, and I JUST NOW noticed old Jack up there, jumping over the candlestick!  Why Jack… why

The rare one with our beautiful Mom, cigarette in hand, telling Steve “Honey, didn’t you see the sign?  Don’t feed the animals!”   Mom, Steve can’t read yet!

Next to Mom, this photo’s my favorite—on the Good Ship Lollipop, I asked Cap’n Candy what his real name was.  When he answered “Clark”, I said “As in Clark Kent?  You got the look”  and man did he laugh! 

Well, that’s it—I just didnt want to see these disappear forever since I’m the only one who has these photos.  I can still remember coming downstairs that morning in those baggy pants & white shirt, and my mom asking “Doug, why aren’t you wearing what I laid out for you?”   When I said I didn’t want to wear shorts because my legs looked too fat, she told me to join the club!   Love & miss you, Mom.