Aww…some Monday
This is our eight year old great grandson. The shirt he is wearing is around 70 years young. My parents belonged to a square-dance club in Oklahoma and the men wore beaded western shirts to some of the events. As a young boy of 7 or 8 years of age, who wanted to be just like his dad, I wanted a beaded shirt. My grandmother made matching shirts for my father and me while my mother did the bead work. Our family was never big on photos when I was young, there are no photos of me wearing this shirt. This is the first time this shirt has been modeled and photographed and you are among the first to see this little heirloom! Here are a few of the bead details.
Monday’s Music Moves Me
The theme this week at 4M is freedom of choice. I chose to continue the theme inspired by the shirt above, 1950’s country music. This ought to be fun.
First up is the man that many still consider the king of country music. Hank Williams had four number 1 hits in 1953. Sadly, on January 1 of that year, he passed away at the age of 29.
If you’re wondering, “What is this square dance thing?”, here is an example of classic traditional square dancing. There is a fancy version that looks like it combines clogging or lord of the dance with square dancing.
In the early 60’s Ray Charles took some of the top country songs of the 50’s and put a new spin on them. The album, Modern Sounds in Country & Western Music became a classic. One of my favorite cuts is Born to Lose. Enjoy.
Driller's Place 
that shirt is amazing.
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The shirt disappeared for decades. Apparently my aunt had it and when she passed away, my cousin found it and gave it to me. It is a special treasure.
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That shirt is amazing. I think one of my husband’s aunts (who was born in 1912 ) did that kind of beadwork. She would decorate Christmas stockings with beadwork. and we still have a couple of them I grew up in New York City and we did square dancing in junior high (now middle school) gym class. I think I remember some of the basic calls although I don’t know if I could do them right if I suddenly appeared on a square dance floor. I enjoyed that type of dance a lot but never did it after junior high. And, finally, I had to prewrite my post for Monday after next and I included a song (not the one you picked) from that Ray Charles album. Definitely a classic. Alana ramblinwitham
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I took square dance lessons in 5th at 6th grade, after school. In junior high I moved to ballroom dancing stayed with it until my junior year in high school.
Last year I found a clean copy of Modern Sounds in Country & Western music in a flea market. Since I have a stereo with turntable, I can play it anytime I need a dose of Ray Charles.
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THat’s gorgeous the shirt is still getting worn! How fab. And don’t we all love Ray! #MondayMusicMovesme
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Life is better with little Ray Charles playing on your turntable.
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Your handsome great-grandson is the perfect model for the wonderful shirt!
Wonderful music and dancing, I used to square dance some but it’s been years and I’ve forgotten all I ever knew.
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It actually fit pretty well. I think the sleeves were a bit short, but it was fine for a quick photo shoot.
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What a wonderful memory and keepsake. Hopefully your grandson will cherish the shirt and remember it when he is older.
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The shirt will mean a great deal to his mother (our granddaughter) and his grandmother (our daughter). Hopefully it will survive another five generations.
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First of all, I LOVE that you took square dancing as a kid, and second of all, I LOVE that shirt, and love even more that your handsome grandson wanted to wear it! SO COOL! And I love your song choices. 🙂
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From the comments it appears that square dancing was a very popular school activity back in our day.
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Way cool shirt. I was born in 1951 so you’re speaking my language here. I did a lot of square dancing in school. It was a big hit back then. You made me smile.
Your grandson is most handsome.
Thank you for joining the Awww Mondays Blog Hop.
Have a fabulous Awww Monday and week, my friend. 🙂
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I can’t believe how many people took square dancing back in our youth. I guess I always thought it was limited to Oklahoma, Texas and throughout the Southeast.
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The shirt is a work of art! I’m so glad you were reunited with it again after it went missing for decades. That’s awesome you grandson is able to wear it. How special! We have DH’s Roy Roger’s shirt. I’m not sure if I have any pictures of him wearing it but it seems we have one with our son in it. We hope to pass it on to our grandson when he’s old enough to wear it. I had to smile at the meniton of square dancing. In junior high gym class that was one of our activities. Have a boogietastic week, my friend!
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Doing the math, the shirt has survived 5 generations. It’s the only handmade item I know of in our family that has seen five generations.
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That is so cool that you have the shirt still. Hopefully, it stays in the family for eons to come. Very cool.
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I love that he loves the shirt which, in Country land, is never out of style. The music is a bit too country for me except for Ray but I appreciate it. Doing those dances, swing your partner etc.. is very difficult. My in laws loved going to these dances
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