Happy All the Time (26 page)

The Wolfsons, Colwin's mother's family, lived in Philadelphia and congregated there for the holidays. Colwin (at front), her older sister, Leslie (at upper left), and their father, Peter, pose by a statue in Rittenhouse Square, Thanksgiving, c. 1950.

Colwin at age seven or eight. As a child and teen, she did print modeling work at her mother's urging.

Colwin receiving an award at Ronkonkoma Grade School.

Colwin as a teenager. Childhood friend Willard Spiegelman, a writer and professor, recalls that Colwin often held “salons” in her bedroom.

By the time she was a teenager, Colwin had developed a keen interest in art. Here, she sketches with charcoal, obviously impressing her companion.

Colwin as a counselor at Camp Burr Oaks in Wisconsin. She had also attended as a camper in earlier years.

Colwin's Cheltenham High School graduation photo, 1962.

After graduating from high school, Colwin traveled to Europe by boat. Her mother (at right), saw her off at the dock.

A rare moment as a dinner guest rather than host.

Cats and fancy dinnerware were two of Colwin's favorite things. Chloe, her beloved Maine coon, sits atop a shelf that displays some of Colwin's prized pieces.

These objects, sketched by Colwin herself, were prominent fixtures on her desk for years and years. Several, including the Callard & Bowser tin of pencils, patterned cup and saucer, and champagne lamp base, remain family treasures.

Colwin used her wit not only in her writing, but also in her drawings and paintings. Here, “MacLehose” refers to publisher Christopher MacLehose, who was a friend of Colwin and her husband, Juris Jurjevics.

Colwin was known for making her own baby food for her daughter, Rosa, pictured here in 1985.