A big part of my brand is nostalgia. My stories often appeal to readers who are longing for or remembering the “good ole days.” Even when they weren’t always all that good! It comes from being weaned on Dad’s stories filled with nostalgia for his own childhood.
So when I feel nostalgic, it’s not unusual. Except lately I’ve been feeling nostalgic for high school of all times! I mean, I didn’t even LIKE high school all that much! I blamed it on the fact that this summer marks THIRTY years since I graduated. I’d even thought I would go to the reunion this time around (of course, like everything else, there isn’t one).
Still, I was surprised to be feeling that bittersweet longing for . . . high school dances? Talk about a lackluster memory. Dad was a math teacher and wrestling coach at my high school. Let’s just say I didn’t date–or dance–much.
Then, while going through the self-check at the grocery store, it hit me. The songs DJs played at those dances are now canned music!
As I hummed along to “Faith” by George Michael while running canned tomatoes across the checker I began to understand. I’m now old enough to officially feel nostalgic for me OWN growing up years.
Sigh.
What makes you feel nostalgic?
You are such a young child. Why, you’re probably only a year or two away from turning 50!
Next month would have been the celebration of my high school class’s 60th graduation anniversary if it hadn’t been postponed by the COVID debacle. They probably hadn’t yet started teaching messed up math in your high school days, so you know that waws twice as many years ago than your graduation. During my high school tenure (1956-1960) Rock & Roll officially came into being with Bill Haley and his Comets, Little Richard, Pat Boone, American Bandstand, and lunchtime sock hops on the stage in the gym to Elvis singing Blue Suede Shoes and Heartbreak Hotel. That was a bit of a departure for me since as a child in the 40s (before TV), my music absorption consisted of Big Band music with Glenn Miller, Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey, Wayne King, Guy Lombardo, Count Basie, Cab Calloway, Benny Goodman, Gene Krupa (I could go on, but Gene Krupa is a good one to end my list.
So, with my young life musical environment ranging from Big Band to Rock & Roll, I had a rich and wonderful high school experience in the days when a hoodlum was a kid with his collar turned up in the back (no hoodies yet) and their criminal drug of choice was a bottle of beer (gasp!). Indiana high school basketball was king and high school bands were a very close second.
The Corvette had just been introduced and we had finally gotten rid of the coal furnace in our basement along with the milk box on the front porch. We still had rotary dial phones and had just graduated from our 4-digit phone numbers (no area codes or 3-digit prefixes). High school time was drive-in movies along with nickel cokes and candy bars that had recently doubled in price. My first car was a heavily-used 1950 Studebaker Champion 2-door stick shift that leaked oil like a sieve, but it was great!
Yes, dear young child of the 80s, high school was a great time and I can’t wait to go to my delayed 60th reunion 61 years after the fact.
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The funny thing is, we STILL had some of what you’re describing in rural WV when I was in school. I still remember the four numbers I dialed to get Grandma–6612!
Irony—I disliked high school mainly for its drama but here I am teaching it, seemingly stuck with drama for years.
And I work in a ministry with high schoolers. I so want to sit them down and save them a whole BUNCH of angst, but they wouldn’t listen. Just like I didn’t!
😉
I love nostalgia as well! I often write about things that make me nostalgic. I will enjoy reading your posts now that I’m back to blogging!
And it’s even more fun when other folks join in to reminisce with you!
Memories of my grandparents and parents but not farm life. I was not meant to be a farm girl.
My dad once told someone I was the least country kid he had ever seen.
Enjoy all your posts.
Oh, that’s funny! I’ll confess remembering farm life is often more fun than living it was 😉
I enjoy watching old black and white TV series for a trip down memory lane.
We were watching Andy Griffith last night!