If you woke up in the 70’s . . .
“I’d turn on the radio – we had the best music ever!” This was the response from someone on social media when asked, “If you woke up in the 70’s, what’s the first thing you would do?”
Yes, I’m sure many of you reading this weren’t around for the 70’s, and although the 80’s were more my teenage and college groove, I do remember the 70’s as a little girl playing in the backyard with my Glass Clacker Balls and Slinky.
Others said they would eat everything they could because they never gained weight back then, and some said they’d play outdoors all day long. (which is why no one gained weight).
The answer that immediately brought back a distinctive memory was, “I’d wash my hair with Gee Your Hair Smells Terrific.” Absolutely! It really did smell terrific.
By far, the overall sentiment of those who remember the decade of Toughskin britches was the longing to reconnect with those no longer here.
“The first thing I’d do,” said one commenter, “would be to run to my grandparents’ house and throw my arms around their necks.”
Regrets of not talking with family and friends enough while they were still here, or not asking them enough questions about their lives was common. Missing those we have lost is hard enough, but adding regrets makes it worse.
One woman said she would apologize to a friend she had in high school, and another said he’d rekindle a love lost through a misunderstanding. Hmmm. That’s a story waiting to be told!
I’d definitely run to family first. Then, I’d go with my Dad who always took me to the mall where he’d buy me a zebra cone (chocolate/vanilla swirled), and we’d watch the decently dressed crowd. No grungy, dirty, pajama pants or dust covered baseball caps worn indoors back then. Ahh. Those were the days.
If you woke up in another decade, what would you do? And if you’re still around 20 years from now, but woke up NOW, in 2026, what would you regret not doing? Well, pull on your Toughskins and get busy! There’s no time like the present to make every moment count.
I would ride my banana seat bike with the leopard pattern seat and spider handlebars to the 7-11 where I would buy a slurpee for 10 cents and ride back home. We would then get into my dad’s white Chevrolet Impala (with air conditioning) and drive to church. Didn’t matter what day of the week. In the 70s, we were always in church.
Sounds like the perfect day.
It would be 1963 on Pass Road in Biloxi, Mississippi riding in my Dad’s beautiful 2-toned blue ’55 Ford; the Sunday ride was just my Dad and I heading to the Radio Shack. There would hardly be anyone on the road. We’d roll down the windows and he’d pull up to the space in front of the store window. The time of 6 p.m. approaching and we’d be excited to see the colorful peacock spreading it’s wings because the Wonderful World of Disney world would begin! The fireworks sparkling and Tinkerbell with her magic wand meant that yes, this was in full technicolor! We loved the “Flintstones!” We couldn’t hear one thing, but we happily glared through that windshield as the t.v. was in color not black and white! Simply amazing 👏 🤩
Do you know how many people sit around and dwell on negative thoughts? You’re blessed with a joyful memory of good people and places! A joyful heart is a blessing!
I grew up a farmers daughter off 104/181;
so I’d go say hi to my grandma then to the garden to pick veggies & strawberries for lunch. Farmers used to harvest with other area farmers, so if it was daddy’s turn… my sister and I were required to pick vegetables & prepare meat, make gallons of sweet tea then cook for 6-8 farm hands. Those were long summer days – later I’d help bale hay by driving the little Ford tractor pulling a wagon as strong boys/men threw hay bales on back.
It’s funny how things we once thought were chores are now our good memories. I loved reading about this ritual – thanks Pat.
Good morning Leslie Anne and Happy Friday. I didn’t immediately have an answer, so I asked my husband the question! He said he would invest in all the land we had the opportunity to purchase as young newlyweds, but did not. We married in 1973. There was an opportunity to buy land that same year in Montana for dirt cheap and we were too fearful to do so!
You could have had your own version of “Yellowstone!”
I’d find my husband that I married in 1974 who has been gone for 22 years.
That’s a sweet thought. I know you’ll see him again one day.
Spend more time with my grandparents, eat more ice cream from the local dairy, and do better about not getting sunburned.
Oh, those sunburns!