While I found a lot of references to the two c's ,cleaning and church, in my diary from 1977, I also read about cosmetics I haven't thought about in years. Does anyone remember Bonne Bell Lipsmackers? For Christmas that year I received Dr. Pepper and bubble gum flavors. Later on, I realized Dr. Pepper had the slight tint to it and it became a staple in my "forbidden" make-up regime. And oh how I longed for Love's Baby Soft perfume! I eventually settled for Sweet Honesty while my mom picked Jontue as her scent. And since I was sporting the Dorothy Hammill wedge haircut, I most definitely insisted on Short and Sassy Shampoo.
We played the games Pay Day, Life, and Yahtzee. We spent summers at the lake, where we swam and roasted marshmallows for s'mores. We put baby oil on our skin and baked in the sun. We rode our bikes to the library and up to Tempo, which was an older version of Target. We ate Tastee-Freeze and went to Sher's Kitchen for homemade caramel and cinnamon rolls. (Sher's was known for the SIZE of the rolls, which covered a dinner plate, as well as their gooey goodness. In college, in fact, it was a freshman rite of passage to be woken from sleep your first week on campus and be taken for rolls at Sher's in your pajamas at 2 in the morning. It was like saying "Welcome to college life, you didn't expect to sleep did you?)
My diary was riddled with notes about Sunday school and church. And watching Love Boat and the movie Freaky Friday with Jodie Foster. I laughed when I read about Easter, and wrote that "the Easter Bunny, which is mom, left us candy in our baskets." Ha! But the day that had me in fits of laughter, was the day I turned 10. I can seriously do an entire post about the jinx of my birthday. Let me give you an example, the day that John F. Kennedy Jr. died in an airplane crash? My birthday. My 4th birthday I spent in the ER having my toenail removed after getting a cement brick dropped on it. The day that Great Grandma Julia died? My 7th birthday. So it should not have surprised me to read about the elaborate plans for the birthday party planned at the lakes. My cousins were coming and our friends from the lake. We had food and cake and anticipation... and only 1 thing missing. Me. I was in the ER 45 miles away, with strep throat. We have one feeble attempt at a picture of me with flaming red eyes and cheeks trying to smile and hold up a cake. Ahh, the good ole days.
I'm left with a craving for a caramel roll and ice cream from Tastee-Freeze. What year were you in 4th grade? What are the scents and flavors that take you back to that time?
Wow! your poor little birthday self! What day is your birthday pray tell, and have you had equally good things happen on that day!?!?!?
ReplyDeleteIsn't it fun going back to childhood? simpler times for sure although I certainly didn't realize it then!
Love to you today~
Robin, July 16th. I think I usually ended up with an extra dose of attention :) But there is a certain amount of "wonder if something will happen on my birthday THIS year?" I have had some perfectly wonderful non-eventful days to be sure! There was a walk on the moon one year which made big news, but I don't know which year it was...
ReplyDeleteI loved lipsmackers when i was little! My girls love it now. Dr. Pepper flavor is Paisley's favorite. She eats it!!! And July 16 is our wedding anniversary.
ReplyDeleteP.s. My bday is NEVER good. I'm always sick with strep or something when my bday rolls around!
Kaleena, well now I WILL have a happy thing to think about during my birthday!! I think you and I have to work on some really positive thoughts and get this "sick" theme on special days to take a hike!!
ReplyDeleteSo happy for your news today :)
Just today at Target Hali was begging for lip smackers for Easter! They remind me so much of childhood. I also owned a bottle of Loves Baby Soft. I still love to smell it at the drug store whenever I notice it....AAAAhhhhhh..I tried the baby oil and baking thing just last summer for old times sake and sorely regretted it. I share alot of memories of church with my old girl friends. We always had a play date with someone after Sunday school playing house or bringing our babies out for pizza and using highchairs for them. We were so innocent then....Thanks for sharing your memories! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat memories Vicky! I actually have a Cherry Coke Lip Smacker in my desk drawer that Jacob got from a birthday party thank you gift at his friend Sophia's house. I just put it on after I read your post! You can get a whole roll of them at Target!
ReplyDeleteWell, I can't help you with the Sher's, which brought back yummy memories, but I can help you with Tastee Freeze....they are open! We just went on our first family Tastee Freeze run tonight. Hot Fudge Malts with extra malt powder for me :) It was a great peek into spring! Hope you four have a great weekend and go and enjoy some ice cream!
Heather, I love hearing about what people remember from childhood :) Thank- you for sharing! I am amazed at the staying power of some of this stuff! That is so sweet about your friends and your dolls :) I'd love to see pictures of you when you were a girl!
ReplyDeleteOhhh Kjersten, I love extra malt powder with every kind of malt!! You know we never think to go to that one that is still open... BUT, I did settle for Dairy Queen tonight!!
ReplyDeleteWe will be spending the weekend at the hockey rink. Its jamboree weekend. We have 5 games! And I heard its supposed to snow. Have a good weekend!
It was 1987 when I was in 4th grade. :) I remember Bonnie Bell well. The New Kids on the Block were all the rage as were blue jean jackets with buttons all over them. The bigger, the better! :)
ReplyDeleteI think it is so awesome that you have a written record of your childhood from your perspective.
You must tend toward an anxiety attack when your birthday rolls around! lol Let's just assume all your bad luck HAS to be behind, just by playing the odds!
ReplyDeleteYes I remember lip smackers. They've come out again and my daughter got some for Christmas. HUGE chunky things. Minky found the Dr. Pepper, wore it for a few minutes, and then ate it. Life at our house!
Jill, I was in college when you were in 4th grade! I totally missed out on the NKOTB rage. I was at the Mall of America this summer and NKOTB were there for a free concert at the mall. We didn't see them, but people were really excited.
ReplyDeleteI did do the jean jacket... I think I had several for quite a few years :)
Robynn, between Jo-Jo and Minky I don't know which is the more clever member of your family? The visual of Minky with Dr. Pepper lipsmacker on is classic!! I hope you are on the mend Robynn!
Vicki what fabulous memories. Bonne Belle lip smackers! He he of course they were the best. I love the way you wrote this post and it took me back in time too. Oh dear the 70s - well I am way older than you but I think I was sporting a Farrah Fawcett haird do by then. Horrendous now I look back. Oh dear the whole birthday thing. Now that was funny and sad at the same time. Oh how sad when you were 7 - you will never forget that day either. I wish I had kept a diary. It is going to be so great for your kids to read one day too. The good thing is we have our blogs and they are like journals as well. Just dont forget to save your posts somewhere too. I would hate to lose my blog now with all the posts I have done over the last year.
ReplyDeleteLilly,
ReplyDeleteI'd love to see a photo of the Farrah Fawcett hair, Lilly! I can totally see it on you! I really do need to figure out how to save them someplace... maybe you could do a post on how to do just that?
How nice to be able to take a walk done memory lane. Since I lost a big chunk of my memory due to a medical incident, can I can I borrow yours?
ReplyDeleteLibby, I am so sorry to hear that! That would be a harsh thing to go through. I hope you are on the mend and able to get back home soon! I will come visit your blog for an update later!!
ReplyDeleteOf course, you can have what ever memories of mine you choose :) perhaps just not the birthday jinx :)
You diary - how fun. You can tell we grew up in the same era and were surrounded by all the same influences. Bubble gum was my flavor favorite - I pretended it was pink lipstick. Love's Baby Soft - oh my, I remember what a wonderful Christmas that was -- and getting the set - including the "spray" bottle -- wow! Sher's Kitchen - what a classic place - carmel rolls and hot fudge cake... Do you remember how many nights we ended up there sitting in a booth -- the good old days. Tempo - I totally remember that - I bought my first make up there. The Tastee Freeze - we should take all the boys there sometime when I am up there this summer - I haven't been there in years (no so of the DQ on 8th street -- last Fall I was practically planted there - not because of the icecream - but the train tracks...) What a find - your diary. I still remember what mine looked like and the little key that came with it...
ReplyDeleteI was thinking of you the whole time I posted these. I knew you would remember most if not all of these same things. Do you know where your diary is? I never had a key so its no wonder there weren't any juicy details whatsoever.
ReplyDelete