Sunday, August 09, 2009

Proud child of the 70s.

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You know, I was talking with some girlfriends recently. I mentioned that I had a cousin's wife whom I don't think I ever saw without a ciggie hanging out of her mouth from the time I can remember first seeing her until she passed a few years back. I also remarked that back in the 70s, when I was getting my vaccinations, etc. in my family doctor's office, he smoked in there. The whole office smelled of smoke and no one thought anything about it.

We rode around town in big ol' honkin' ugly woodgrain-paneled stationwagons. Without seat belts or car seats (car seats? you got out of those once you turned a year old!). Standing up in the passenger seat or sitting on the fold-down armrest. Riding our bikes all over town in the summer without parental supervision.... sometimes without direct parental knowledge (oopsie). Actually being encouraged to stay outside all day and NOT come home until called for a meal. Walking to the store for penny candy (only by then, 2 for a nickel) .... in my case, the Speedy Mart and Mr. Owen's store (OMG, does anyone else remember Astro Pops??)

Seeing the pictures of me in my Girl Scout uni with my other Brownie friends. Going to Camp Wabak...... oh my. Plaid. Plaid. Plaid. My orange-and-black rugby striped shirt for my 4th grade picture.

I'd love to hear some more of your 70s memories -- share them in the comments!!

2 comments:

Seraphim9 said...

I remember when I was in 3rd grade going out BY MYSELF door-to-door to get orders for GS cookies!

I had an Evel Knievel Friction Super Stunt Cycle with Gyro Launcher. You wound up the bike, set it off, and he'd pop wheelies. Super groovy!

I have a picture of myself when I was 6, wearing plaid pants, brown Mary Janes, no shirt, a plastic wig, and big fat wax lips....all while riding a pedal tractor. And everybody thought that was the most adorable thing ever!

Astro Pops! YESSS!!!

I used to steal quarters from my mom's purse so I could stop by the store and buy some penny candy before school. You could attract quite a crowd at recess if you had several packages of "Nialaters" (Now-N-Laters) to share!

My mom drove my Brownie troop to Pizza Hut in our white Oldsmobile station wagon. There must have been a dozen of us piled in the back, sitting cross-legged with all the seats folded down. Not a one of us was wearing a seatbelt. And we sang along to Rick James' "Brick House" playing on the radio. We must have looked like a clown car disembarking when we arrived at our destination!

My mom bought my dad an underwear set - red and white striped briefs with a matching tank top! And I remember when he decided to model it. He came flying through the curtains we had at the top of the two stairs that led from our sunken den up into the kitchen, and landed at the bottom of the stairs with a "Ta-DA!" until he realized that my GS leader was standing there talking to my mom. It was like he had springs in his feet - "Ta-DA!....whoops" and bounced back up through the curtains.

The man on page 602 of the 1975 Sears catalog - penis or print blemish? Even Snopes can't determine! http://www.snopes.com/business/hidden/sears.asp#add

Oh, I could go on, and on, and on..... :-)

Br. Jonathan said...

Yes, I remember Astro Pops.

Also, the smell of a new 8-track tape.

Riding in my choir teacher's AMC Pacer.

The first time I heard Emerson, Lake & Palmer.

The smell of Hai Karate, Herbal Essence Shampoo, and Boones Farm Strawberry Hill wine (woops)

My first pair of platform shoes.

Sigh. . .

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