|
 “I
don’t know where I’m going, but I’m on my way.” That quote is
attributed to Voltaire, Carl Sagan, and Carl Sanburg as well as the
title of a WWI era song by George Fairman.
“It was easier going through the 70’s in my 20’s rather than going
through my 70’s in the 20’s.”
This quote is on numerous birthday cards, coffee mugs, and
paraphernalia targeted at people my age.
As I think about the above two quotes it triggers some deep thinking
as well as some giggles on how clueless we are as we travel this
life. Let’s compare the last 50 years in this column.
How about we start with the movies:
“You talkin’ to me? You talkin’ to me?” Taxi Driver 1976 Travis
Bickle
“May the Force be with you” Star Wars: Episode IV 1977 Han Solo
“Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?” Dirty Harry 1971 Harry
Callahan
“I’m just Ken.” Barbie 2023 Ken
“Whatever you plan on happening, never happens. Stuff you would
never think of happens.” C’mon C’mon 2021 Jesse
“They need us…. until they don’t:” Oppenheimer, 2023, Luis Alvarez
I love John Lennon’s quote “Life is what happens to your while
you’re busy making other plans.” How 1970’s is that quote…. but how
appropriate is it right now in the 2020’s?
For that matter, how about Willie Nelson and Keith Richards? They
are going strong enough to be Energizer bunny advertisements.
There we go….advertisements! In the 70’s we had the handsome
Marlboro man. Yep. Smoking is bad. Marlboro man needed to go. As did
Kool King size, Winston, Pall Mall, & Salems to name a few. Vinyl
records and stereos were in. Lots and lots of ads for cameras in all
shapes and forms. Not many cameras sold today.
In 2020’s we have Doritos advertising with Lil Nas X and Sam
Elliott. Sam is as handsome as any Marlboro man, but the moustache
waggle is a bit much. How about Reese’s Chocolate Lava Big Cup with
the bride in her dress running from her wedding, toward a volcano
eruption with her mouth unattractively wide open? Memorable but not
good memorable.
My first born came into this world in 1971. I love the toys of that
era. Compare that fabulous Big Wheel to any battery powered riding
toy of today. I dare today’s child to get that bone jarring ride the
Big Wheel delivered. Especially when you’ve done enough spin outs
that the back wheels are dented and torn and the races continue on.
How many youngsters built ramps for their Big Wheels and banana seat
bikes to fly gallantly through the air? How many youngsters ended
that ride bouncing around in the back of a station wagon on their
way to get casts on broken bones? Those were the days.
[to top of second column] |
My boys had Stretch Armstrong. One son would hold his hands…another
his feet…neither would let go until good ole Stretch slipped and one
contender went down mightily as the conquering brother ran
triumphally throughout the house. Stretch was filled with a syrupy,
nasty gel that ruined any carpet, rug, or blanket that he “bled out”
on. He cost enough that moms all over bandaged, bound, and tied up
his many wounds. It didn’t matter. The dang toy dripped the
miserable goop everywhere. Today we have Goo Jit Zu. Instead of the
syrup, they contain fillings like beads, glitter, sand, etc. Not
nearly the drama for mama. That’s good, I suppose. Although many a
times, I had bonding moments with my sons I as I appeared to
magically bring Stretch back from the brink of death and to the
world of battling brothers once again. How does today’s momma show
her superpower?
The stomp rocket was another toy that brought fun and fear. No boy
was satisfied with just launching the enclosed rocket. Many a konk
on the head resulted from rocks, Hot Wheels, and GI Joe’s bombarding
from the launch pad.
Back in the day, we tucked as many kids in the car as it could hold.
No seat belts. Switching from front to back seats was a common
practice. Praise God we all figured out the problem with that and
have the seat belts and laws of today. Although I do ponder upon the
wisdom of a child of 12 mandatorily being in a car seat. I feared my
grandsons would graduate school before they could legally get out of
using a car seat. Sheesh! Now that I’m in my 70’s I surprise myself
at what I remember…until I try to get out of the car with my seat
belt on.
Remember going into a restaurant and not being able to breathe or
taste the food because of the haze of cigarette smoke? Those of us
that were nonsmokers would have to air out our clothes when we
returned home because they absolutely reeked of secondhand smoke.
Using asbestos was common and people are paying for it with health
problems today. Leaded gasoline was the norm for vehicles. There
were no significant consequences for littering except for those of
us who couldn’t bear to picture “The Crying Indian” that Keep
America Beautiful depicted in 1971. Iron Eyes Cody went on to be an
actor in many movies. Then it was discovered that he was Italian
American. Not wanting to stereotype or cause problems, Keep America
Beautiful spoke to several Indigenous peoples’ organizations and the
National Congress of American Indians became caretakers of the ad.
Pinterest says, “It perfectly encapsulates the irony of a generation
who spent their youth experiencing the free-spirited culture of the
1970’s only to find themselves navigating the modern 2020’s as
senior citizens.”
All of us in our 20’s in the 70’s was not free-spirited. Most of us
were hard-working, giving back to society, tax-paying people.
But…that didn’t make the news. The same can be said of all
generations. Find fun. Do the work. Do random acts of kindness.
Forget the bad and revel in the good memories.
L. Maxine McQueen
may be contacted at
maxmac.1@juno.com |
