I was 12 years old and recovering from an emergency
surgery after my appendix ruptured.
I had spent a week in the hospital (things were done differently in those days) and was now at home but still an invalid.
My bedroom was upstairs in our house and I had to be carried downstairs and settled in on the couch for Christmas morning.
Surrounding me in this picture were my uncle Zenas from San Francisco, my mother, my grandfather and my dad.
Mom wrote on the back of the picture "Doesn't Bruce look pale?"
As you can see the house had been gaily decorated to cheer me up.
I don't look very cheerful though, do I?
