A Generation Grows Up: A Culture Grows Old
Growing up as a child of the seventies was a breeze. Just ask David Crosby. What blows my mind was what we bought into. From a peanut farmer for a president to bell-bottom jeans you literally tripped over, the seventies was an era of eccentric ideas, though some of those ideas blew right by us.
This was back in the days when straight guys got perms and wore high-heeled shoes, otherwise known as platforms. Rick Dees made a hit with ‘Disco Duck’ and ‘Alright’ by Nipsey Russell turned into ‘Dynomite!’ by Good Time’s Jimmie Walker.
What I want to know is, who came up with the idea for Mrs. Beasley? Is it just me or is this how they came up with the look for Sally Jessy Raphael? I believe the blue dress with white polka dots and yellow trim is what led me to make horrible fashion choices during my high school years.
‘Brick House’ pushed up the idea of silicone inserts, G.I. Joe was obviously a ‘Village People’ inspiration and Donny and Marie sure made a great couple! Satin was all the rage and Harry Krishna people took up more street corners than hookers.
These were the days when normal families could go to the state fair and not get hurt and depression was something that happened in the 1930s. Because our mothers were on a diet, we had to choke down gallons of Tab and shagging was what you did to the carpet when you vacuumed.
During these ‘days of our lives’, our mood rings were always blue, though we never were, and the Ouija board really could talk by itself! The world was going to come to an end at any moment and Nixon was a great president.
Having a ‘light-bulb’ moment meant you were actually considering changing out the light bulbs in the house and a talk show was a reputable program to watch. Small children were afraid of Ozzy Osborne and ‘Charlie’s Angels’ sure were smart.
Liposuction was something you did at parties and living up to everyone’s expectations meant making your bed, taking out the trash and being a pain in the neck until it was time to go to sleep.
Budda was something you shook at a dance and karma was something you put over apples. A ‘dead head’ was a cool thing to be and ‘fudging’ was something our moms made with Hershey’s cocoa when they were cheating on their diets.
Ma Bell was the only phone company around and receiving a telemarketing call at night was a thrilling, new experience. Throwing up after you eat happened because you had a stomach virus and you didn’t think it was strange that your dentist gave you candy after a check-up.
A lot has changed since the 1970s. Our thoughts and perceptions have sharpened and, in some ways, made life more difficult than it has to be and we are all looking way too much like our parents these days.
These days ‘big brother’ is a program on television and judgment isn’t saved for the end of your life, but is a part of your life every day. I can’t help but wonder if life does come full circle, will we be as light-hearted being seventy as we were living in the 1970s?
And, if so, instead of deteriorating can we get upgrades like the ‘six million dollar man’?
