Living

Monday, Sep 11, 2006

30 Comments

1. Ah…The Facts of Life (now I have that song stuck in my head!) I was born in ‘75 and your childhood sounds so much like mine! But you seem so much older and wiser than I am, so I’m guessing you were born in’73!

   Comment by Anita (September 11, 2006 @ 8:55 am )

2. Man, you guys are young! I want time to speed up right now as I’m having a baby in 10 days and not feeling to good! Then it can slow down a little….

   Comment by Nancy (September 11, 2006 @ 9:04 am )

3. Well, my husband was born in ‘74, and you sound just like him when he talks about his childhood, so that’s my guess. (He’s 6 years my senior…cradle robber) As for the glass coke bottles, they still make them, but you have to hunt for them at gas stations and grocery stores. I was delighted to recently run into a station that had them set up in a large insulated barrel….in ice! Yes, they had ice in the top when you opened and drank them…ahhh!

   Comment by Mrs. Huckabay (September 11, 2006 @ 9:23 am )

4. I was born in 74 and so I will guess you were too xoxo melzie

   Comment by Melzie (September 11, 2006 @ 9:23 am )

5. ha-ha! you sound like the age of my children:)…probably one of the older two–’71,’73. i can tell you what you’ll be doing in your golden years–trying madly to keep up. it will take more energy to accomplish less…and that is assuming you don’t have any major health issues. i can’t even imagine how you will keep up with your grandchildren:) i had two in one month and that kept me hopping. my friend who has six children (with two still at home) seems to get her grandchildren in clumps. they are never spread out evenly over years and months, but two or three in a year. she now has six under three with another on the way:) (spread out among 4 children!) what fun! and no morning sickness for you:)

   Comment by martha (September 11, 2006 @ 10:17 am )

6. Back in those days, I couldn’t wait for time to speed up. I wanted those moments to hurry on by so that I could get on with living. Now that time is moving too fast, I want it to slow down just so I can take a nap, and afterward, sip a mocha slowly

   Great line! And how true.

   {{{Candleman}}}

   Comment by Candleman (September 11, 2006 @ 10:29 am )

7. Circle K ?? I remember the first 7/11. I also remember the first McDonalds when the sign said, “Over 100,000 sold” and you could get a hamburger, fries and a drink for under a buck. (We used to skip out of school during lunch and run the five blocks to get there).

   I grew up about two blocks from Elitch Gardens in Denver. I used to lay on my lawn and listen to the roller coaster make it’s way to the top of the first drop… click, click, click and then the screams as it went over. Then we moved across town when I was about 13 and I got my first job selling cokes at the Bronco’s games. I could park three cars on my front lawn at $2.00 each and then make about $30.00 before half time at the game. I’ld spend the second half hanging around the fence along the sideline and watching the game. “Get your coke here. Ice cold coke here.”

   My oldest left for college this year and my youngest will get his driver’s license in two weeks. I was born in 1957 and life is moving faster than a speeding bullet.

   I’ll guess that you were born in 1977.

   Comment by Tim (September 11, 2006 @ 10:36 am )

8. Okay, you all are guessin early to mid 70’s. But as a babe of 78′, I am here to say, I watched all those shows (and the Dukes of Hazard, too), drank from the elusive glass bottles, and all that jazz. Amy, I am gonna wager a guess for the later part of the 70’s…77 or 78. *grin*

   Comment by Aubrey (September 11, 2006 @ 10:36 am )

9. Amy,
   You were born in ‘76.

   I’m a ‘75 baby, though, so I relate to most everything you said. (Including the thoughts on time moving too fast, now)

   I watched a lot of “Jeffersons” and “Facts of life”.

   I was not a very good babysitter (can you say, watch tv and monitor the kids at the same time?–oh yeah, and the junk food was good, too!)

   Instead of Circle K, we went to “The Pantry”….similar sort of thing.

   Thanks for the memories, and the thoughts.

   Comment by Andrea (September 11, 2006 @ 11:15 am )

10. And I thought I was the only one who remembers Silver Spoons.

    I recently saw a pillow in a craft shop that was embroidered with “How beautiful it is to do nothing and rest afterwards.” With 5 kids, I don’t know what that is anymore, but I like to dream about it.

    Not really, I like my life, but I sure would like to sit and sip a coke in a glass bottle right now, though.

    : )

    Comment by Charmin (September 11, 2006 @ 11:22 am )

11. My dad owns his own barber shop and still orders coke in glass bottles for his fridge. I loved walking across our little town to “the shop” for a cold one.

    I did yard work for neighbors, swept hair in Dad’s shop, or massaged his aching feet for cash. One year, after halloween, I volunteered my services to clean “rolled” yards for some dough. I blew it on dip stiks and candy corn. Ahh…those were the days.

    Comment by Leslie (September 11, 2006 @ 11:42 am )

12. I’ll put my guess in at 1975. You have said things that make me think she’s 10 years younger than me–oops! The cat is out of my bag! I used to have time to READ and bake for fun!

    Comment by Another Heather (September 11, 2006 @ 11:43 am )

13. Hi Amy,

    I just found your blog today. If you think time is passing fast now, just wait till they’re teenagers. We’ve got five teens now, and I keep thinking how much more I wish I had time to do with them, teach them, etc.

    We’ve homeschooled the whole time, and so for years it seemed like they were “stuck at home” so much, but now it’s becoming a major feat just to get them all together at home at the same time (before their curfew).

    It does seem like the season of our life has changed in recent years - we too were a family of small kids for a long time, with all the restrictions I’m sure you’re reminded of constantly, but they do grow up fast.

    As Steven Covey noted, true time management is making the most out of the season you’re in at the time, so enjoy them while they’re little. Kids are so much fun if you can overlook the ridiculous annoyances and remember to make sure they get their naps!

    Comment by Gordon (September 11, 2006 @ 11:52 am )

14. “At 11-years-old, irresponsible parents left their small children with me as they plunked down a small fortune every night in the local bars. Everyone was running, but nobody knew where to. After they came home drunk, I usually left short-changed, but I didn’t care. What else did I have to do? Besides, the junk food at their house was better than at mine.”

    I was just thinking about that…there is NO WAY I could leave my six year old with an 11 year old babysitter…what if he choked..what if something caught fire..what if…what if… and yet, at 12 years old, I was babysitting two preschoolers ALL DAY. What were the parents thinking????

    Anyhew..my guess is 1970.

    Comment by V. (September 11, 2006 @ 1:31 pm )

15. Though I’m not NEARLY as old as you (I’ve never even seen “The Facts of Life”), I definately understand where you’re coming from. It made me think about one of my favorite books that I just re-read, “A Lantern in Her Hand,” by Bess Streeter Aldrich. In it, there’s constant references to time, and how fast it goes. At each turning point in her life (getting married, moving west, having kids, kids getting married, etc…) she thinks, “Oh please, let time stop, for just a minute. Let me think about if this is best.”

    Now that I think about it, the two really aren’t related at all, but since you did make me think of the book, I couldn’t resist commenting. (And it is a really good book. Something along the lines of the Little House books, though more aimed at adults.)

    PS–> I’m the ripe old age of 23, btw.

    Comment by Amanda (September 11, 2006 @ 4:04 pm )

16. I am going to guess 73, just because that is the year I was born. Family Ties was good, as was he Cosby show!!!

    I really liked what you said today. It makes on nostalgic for those glass bottles that really kept the soda cold. Another memory, I remember my mom taking the glass bottles back to the grocery store for a deposit!

    Comment by Kelly Bowland (September 11, 2006 @ 5:10 pm )

17. (((SIGH))) I remember those shows………….

    I found Coke in bottles in Wal-Mart…….but, so extremely expensive, it is almost a shame to drink it.

    Sometimes I look at my children and envy them, lol…..they have no idea how great they have it!!

    Comment by Candi (September 11, 2006 @ 5:32 pm )

18. As someone born in 1975 and recognizes everything you mentioned…I’m guess 1972 or ‘73.

    Comment by Dena (September 11, 2006 @ 7:41 pm )

19. Never - no NEVER - say you’re too old for a slushee…..I wouldn’t give up matching blue teeth with my boys for anything! (giggling)

    You made me “puddle up” reading about “years back when” - it’s true - we want what we didn’t realize was so valuable - simplicity. It is imperative that we engrain its value in our children now.

    Wonderful post - thank you!
    Harriette Jacobs
    South of the Gnat Line
    http://www.homesteadblogger.com/southofthegnatline
    or
    Jacobs Academy: A Dirt Road Education
    http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/jacobsacademy

    Comment by Harriette Jacobs (September 11, 2006 @ 8:10 pm )

20. Wow! That sounds familiar…except I had the snow cone lady, bought fun-dip, and had some well-tipping sitting jobs. And I’m gonna guess ‘72 like myself.

    Comment by Roberta (September 11, 2006 @ 9:49 pm )

21. I’ve been de-lurked!

    This post touched a nerve. It is so nice to know that everyone suffers from the same malady: Wishing for what you don’t have, whether it is TIME, PLACES, or OBJECTS. Amazing. It is so unbelievably true.

    I must say, I admire your straight-forward writing style: I’ve been enjoying your blog for many months now.

    Adios,
    a. borealis

    Comment by a. borealis (September 11, 2006 @ 11:18 pm )

22. You had a slushy truck in your neighborhood!? Lucky.

    Comment by begonias (September 11, 2006 @ 11:21 pm )

23. Well, since you didn’t mention Punky Brewster, I would guess that you might be a little bit older than me. I was born in ‘75, so were you born in ‘73?

    Things were so different when we were children. I lived in Inglewood, CA, a suburb of L.A., as a child. My parents actually let me walk to the store, ride my bike around the corner, and when I got a little older, even walk to the library. I could never imagine allowing my children to do that now, and we live in the South.

    You feel the same way that I feel. Where does the time go?

    Comment by Joi (September 12, 2006 @ 12:50 am )

24. Ok, I was feeling young while reading your post. Then people started guessing your DOB in 75-77 which is not much before me…and then somebody mentioned Punky Brewster…and now I’m feeling old. I’m going with about 71-72…

    Comment by Kristy (September 12, 2006 @ 3:18 am )

25. I’ve been reading your blog for several months now (since the first “Naming Criteria” post) and had to ring in on this topic.

    I also watched all of the shows you listed and remember well drinking coke from a glass bottle. I had a Great Aunt who ran a beauty shop (this was prior to common use of the word “salon” in the South) and her vending machine dispensed glass bottles; I also remember returning them to the grocery store for a deposit as mentioned in a previous comment. I have to add to the list of the TV shows - Growing Pains and Family Ties - although Silver Spoons, Punky Brewster, and The Cosby Show were personal faves.

    I seem to remember you mentioning a big something-0 birthday recently, so I’ll have to guess you were born ‘76 (I’m a ‘79 baby).

    I greatly enjoy your posts and get a lot of good encouragement being a brand-new stay-at-home mom. Thanks!

    Comment by Jana G. (September 12, 2006 @ 10:16 am )

26. you said -”no matter how old you are, you always want what you don’t have”. soooooo true. i was thinking the other day how when i am away from the mall for several weeks. i am content. but step one foot in that place and SUDDENLY i am hit with all the things that i don’t have. and the lies that somehow these things will make me happy.

    Comment by Ruth (September 12, 2006 @ 11:20 am )

27. Since I never watched any of those shows, and I was out of the country in the mid 70s, I’m going to guess you were born in the early 70s. But I would have guessed that anyway. Actually, I think you may be younger than that.

    But you touched a nerve here. I had that same kind of boredom and now I look back and think, “how sad”. I spent a good part of most summers at grandparent’s homes and they could never think of anything to do with me but park me in front of the TV (once in awhile take me to the pool). What a waste of potential for influence and teaching!

    Comment by Rebecca (September 12, 2006 @ 12:03 pm )

28. Kudos to Andrea and Jana G. for remembering that I mentioned my 30th birthday in passing. When we found out that we were expecting #5, I hoped to get him here before my 30th birthday. He made it by four days. So, yes, the answer is 1976. Other shows I watched were Dukes of Hazzard, Alice, What’s Happenin’, Punky Brewster, Smurfs, to name a only a few.

    Thanks to all who’ve been delurking this past month. Did you notice that it wasn’t too painful and your computer didn’t self-destruct?

    Comment by Amy Scott (September 12, 2006 @ 4:59 pm )

29. Well said Amy. Thanks for the nostalgic look back this morning. I’m a few years ahead of you on the trip, but remember many of the same things. We loved the Dukes!

    I read as I sipped my coffee, wearing my fleece pants and sweatshirt…guess you can tell we’re not in FL! Funny, but I’ll take the cold over mosquitoes any day.

    Comment by Angela (September 20, 2006 @ 10:10 am )

30. [...] our car wash business, we tried lemonade stands and mowing lawns. Both yielded pathetic returns. It wasn’t until I turned eleven and got my first babysitting job [...]

    Pingback by Amy’s Humble Musings » Summer jobs (March 3, 2007 @ 10:20 am )

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