Written History

I was 5 and a half when my grandfather bought the pinball machine. I have a fuzzy memory of when it came and everybody down in the cellar trying to put it together. I remember that mixture of excitement and frustrated consternation that goes along with any member of the Russ family attempting something mechanical (yeah I'm looking at you, Dad). I have many vivid memories of the times we spent playing pinball in the basement of my grandparent's house. I remember sprinting upstairs after setting a new record and bragging about it to my grandfather, who would have been sitting in his chair watching football or something. I remember getting in a huge fight with my sister because I walked away from a particularly good game with 2 balls left and she hit the reset button accidentally(?). I probably haven't played it in 15 years, but hearing the sounds of it tonight it was just like I expected.

We kept a list of high scores that has been hanging on the side of the machine since 1981. The first listing on it is AR, my grandfather. After that my Dad dominated for quite some time. All my cousins names are there, in their grade school cursive handwriting. There are some visiting dignitaries listed also. Emily, our first best friend. My Nanny, the wonderful woman who took care of us and was like an extra grandmother to me. I giggled picturing Nanny letting us drag her down to the cellar and making her play pinball with us. She was one of those little old ladies who always clucked and feigned disapproval, but looking back at it she clearly indulged pretty much our every whim. Anything your little heart desires, she would have said. I forgot the list and had to make a trip back to the house to get it this afternoon. I think I'm going to frame it.

The girls were totally enchanted with the machine. It was fun showing them how to play. They are already getting the hang of it pretty quickly. We put it in Eli's room. He doesn't realize it yet, but he scored big time with this one.

some bad snaps





the primary source document
(I didn't intend to have my name be the one highlighted, it just happened to be in the middle of the page and stand out well. I stink at this shot anyway)


a new generation