There are many people who personify my childhood and how I think of the 1970's, and a particular type of person, as well. If you were to ask me who and what perfectly captures the mid to late 70's, for example, I'd have to say, "A tennis mom named Carol, who spent many hours at the neighborhood swim club rallying on the tennis court with her tennis mom friends, while their kids played in the pool and ran around the club on a beautiful, hot summers day, eating pizza and frozen brownies. She drove a mid 70's model station wagon, possibly a Ford Country Squire or maybe a Chevrolet Caprice, which her husband would wash, every other week. She also spent some of her time, off the court, helping out in the snack bar. She was very popular at the club. Everyone loved Carol because she was a joy to be around. Always having a smile on her face and kind word for everyone. She was usually seen wearing tennis skirts and tennis shoes, and always had a golden tan. A sporty look was the norm for her. She was married to a wonderful guy named Bob and they had 3 kids. Two boys and a girl. She and Bob would often, in the evenings, play doubles with their best friends, Sue and Doug, while the kids, again, would be enjoying the pool or movie night in the clubhouse with their friends. Bob was known to regularly sport white tennis shorts, tube socks, and white tennis shoes, on the court. Adidas was their court shoe of choice. Carol and Bob always looked pulled together. They had a very smart sense of sporty fashion while always wearing the proper outfits for the court, though they were often seen doing other activities in the same outfits, such as grocery shopping, or walking the dog. Frequently, in the evenings, they might go for a stroll through the neighborhood, and would usually throw on their velour tracksuits if there was the slightest nip in the air.
Carol was green eyed and sandy haired with a lovely, slightly longer version of the Dorothy Hamill cut. While Bob had intoxicatingly crystal blue eyes, with a manly haircut which fell slightly over the top of his ears, parted on the right side, with mid-length sideburns and a well manicured mustache. Bob was a brunette.
Carols kids were always very well behaved and well mannered. However, Every once in awhile they would act up, prompting disciplinary action from their dad. Bob was very strict with the three of them, especially the boys. Carol was a disciplinarian, as well, but would very often say, "wait till your dad gets home!". The fussing would never last very long. Bob would break out his double holed leather belt, pop it a couple of times to put an extra scare into the kids, give each one a few licks on the rear end and life was back to normal... and the kids were back to enjoying Chico and the Man, followed by, the Rockford Files, before bedtime.
Bob was a great guy! He had a great fashion sense and was the "host with the most" behind his wet bar, during holiday parties. He was a huge Neil Diamond fan and would play his albums over their Sony stereo system, along with The Carpenters, Engelbert Humperdinck, Tom Jones, and of course, The Captain and Tennille, among others. Carol and Bob, both, loved good pop music with an easy listening feel.
Carol was also an amazing cook, with one her specialties being good, old fashioned Lasagna. The kids loved it! They would often have Thanksgiving and Christmas at their home, and always a New Year's Eve open house, as well as, occasional Fondue parties with friends. Carol would do all of the cooking, while Bob did the decorating. They would have an amazing spread of food, always buffet style. They were a great team, together. They had a beautiful, slightly Neo-Tudor style, split level home, in a nice neighborhood, with plenty of dark and light wood tones throughout the home. They were not considered wealthy, but a typical middle class family. The even had a German Shepard mix named, Fred.
As a family, they loved the beach. At least once during the summer, they would take a short trip to the coast. With beach towels, umbrella, and a cooler full of 7 Up, Grape soda, Tab, baloney sandwiches on white bread, and frozen M&Ms, along with Bob's transistor radio, a Frisbee and a football, they'd be off! And let it be known, Bob always smelled of English Leather, even at the beach. Carol, however, usually smelled of Cocoa Butter, which was quite appropriate for the beach OR the tennis court.
Saturday mornings were the best. The kids would be up at the crack of dawn, getting their cereal, or Morton Mini Cinnamon-Sugar Donuts, out and ready for cartoon watching. Once the TV signal was back up after the nightly sign-off, they were glued. After their breakfast (even Fred got mini donuts) was eaten and Soul Train was about to start, it was time to head outside for the rest of the day, until Carol called them in for dinner. For a real treat, occasionally, on a Saturday night, Bob would say, "pile in car, we're going out!". Going out usually meant McDonald's, but if they were celebrating something, they might head to Shoney's Big Boy! Very special occasions, however, might call for Steak and Ale.
Sundays were a bit different. The kids would get up very early, as usual, and watch an episode of Jot. Then, as a family, they would head to church, and afterward, go to the bakery for donuts. And again, as always, Fred got a donut, too. The kids would play all afternoon and watch The Six Million Dollar Man in the evening. Weekends were usually laid back and family oriented. It was truly a wonderful life."
This is a very short example of who and what personifies the mid to late 70's for me. It's fictional, yet it's not. The family and activities are based on people I knew and grew up with and love dearly, to this day, as well as, many of my own experiences. I am so grateful to God for giving me such wonderful memories and a beautiful life. The personification of the early 70's is a bit different, but we'll get into that later. There will be more to come, for there is so much more to say about America - the way we were.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 ..in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
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