Saturday, November 15, 2008

The more things change, the more they stay the same....

Do you remember: Star Trek, John Wayne, Kramer vs. Kramer, Sadie Hawkins, Uncle Norm, Iran, silver, American hostages, Calvin Klein jeans, Spirit, Mall Decorating Contest, Foreigner, 1941…Catholic Central 53, Ottawa Hills 56, The Muppet Movie, Rock with You, Mom McCarty, Winter Olympics, Quadrasonics, Rocky Horror Picture Show (yeah baby) Tony Tucker, 10, Tai and Randy, Mr. Steeby, Styk; Babe, Mellow 93, 13.9 percent inflation, Doc Donovan, Commodores, Still, Ted Kennedy, Docksiders, work sessions, OPEC, The Gambler, Mrs. Brunner, dollar a gallon gas, time warpin’

Kermit the Frog, Afghanistan, Coke Adds Life, Spring Break, DeeCees, ERA, Chemistry, Quarter Pounders with Cheese, James Doohan, Sweetheart Swirl, Barbra Streisand, Downtown Renovation, balanced budget, Legend Photographers, Olympic Boycott, Let it Begin with Us, Please Don’t Go, Cheap Trick

Bo Derek, John Belushi, D.H., Reb Tevye, James Earl Carter, Rocky II, The Shah of Iran, research papers, Michigan State, Boston, Don’t Look Back, Larry D., Burt Reynolds, pot, Maggie Thatcher, Fox 101, SALT II, the draft, Trilogy, Jimmy Durante, Close-Up, “houp, February 29, 27 M.P.G., Hockey City Champs, Physics, Saturday Night Live, Fiddler, Three Mile Island, disco, George Burns, Quiz bowl, Owls, real gold, Soviet Union, In-house Suspension, chewin’ tobacco, Mr. Shear, pin-striped suits, deadlines, Pep Club…

The PiƱa Colada Song, commitments, Mammoth caves, Morning Announcements, Reunited, Cheryl Ladd, football practice, Earth, Wind and Fire, farmers in Washington, Hagar the Horrible, gasahol, Sad Eyes, Uncle Duke in Iran, digital watches, Charlie’s Angels, the Sound and the Fury, custom vans, preppy shirts, Fun Week, racquetball, Coneheads, Seif’s smooth swimmers, strikes, Chrysler, velour, croppers, Chuck Mangione, Menochom Begin, Saturday Night Fiedler…

The Who concert, boofin’, the bottle bill, Ain’t No Stoppin' Us Now, Cambodia, Mork and Mindy, Christmas Bash, Press coverage, more boofin’, and Graduation…

These were just a handful of the people, places and events that made 1979 unique, and so special. As graduation passes, and we each go our own way, we’ve all promised to keep in touch. Things are different now, so somehow, I know we won’t, and maybe someday it won’t matter. But right now, it hurts, just a little…

Darlene Thwaites