I don’t normally share personal family photos on my blog, but we recently had a very special birthday party in my family that I think is worth sharing with the world. On July 21, my grandmother Jacqueline Nagel and her sister Joan Wilson celebrated their 90th birthday. The two of them, along with their late sister Jayne Bobinis, were the first set of triplets born in Saratoga Hospital in Saratoga Springs, NY. Eighteen years later, they went on to be the first set of triplets to graduate Saratoga Springs High School, where my grandmother was salutatorian of her class. Last summer, my immediate family enjoyed a socially distanced birthday party in my grandmother’s backyard with just a few people, but this year we were able to have a larger gathering at The Grove at Saratoga, in a beautiful former chapel.
An aerial view of the setup before guests arrived.
Table centerpieces featuring little balloons with a design I drew with their first initial.
Table settings with napkins featuring my design. I gave each of the ladies a framed print of the design.
An old newspaper article commemorating their tenth birthday sits atop a table. Their mother always gave them each their own cake! My grandmother is on the left.
Some of the presents brought and sent to the girls from family members near and far.
An enlarged newspaper article about their high school graduation sits atop an easel.
The girls look longingly at a birthday cake around the time of their third birthday.
This card was sent out by Saratoga Hospital on the occasion of the girls’ first birthday in 1932.
Looking up at the Happy Birthday sign we hung from the second floor sitting area.
I think this is my favorite photo from the day.
Champagne flutes sit on a table awaiting a toast to the girls.
A solo portrait of my great aunt Joan.
A solo portrait of my grandmother, Jackie.
Cheers to 90 years!
My grandmother’s pastor came by with flowers for each lady. She stayed and chatted with us.
There was a lot of reminiscing and sharing of old stories and memories. I thought I had heard them all, but I was amused with my aunt Joan’s story of how their mother used to tease their father because he could not tell the two of them (the identical ones) apart when they were little!
A self portrait (triggered with my phone) of family members who attended the party. There were quite a few who live too far away to attend, but they were there in spirit!
The girls getting ready to blow out the candles on their individual birthday cakes.
The girls each chose a flavor for their cake. In the background, the girls cut their birthday cakes on their fifth birthday in 1936 (that’s their niece Pat, who was actually a year older than them, in the background).
The ladies reading the birthday cards from me.
My grandmother and I at the end of what turned out to be a very memorable and wonderful day.
To see more of my photography be sure to follow me on Instagram and Facebook. All photos in this post © Samantha Decker and may not be reused without permission.
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