In the 1950s, to occupy all of us baby boomers, the hobby industry boomed with a proliferation of kits. Paint-by-numbers; model airplanes, cars, trains, and boats; beading and weaving; stamp and coin collecting; paper dolls … most of us had hobbies. Think back … What role did hobbies play in your free time? How did they affect your adult life? Share your Hobbies stories forward.
Come summer, when school is out and the pace of life slows down, many families decide to pack up the car or the RV and take a trip. Some may make a tour of national parks or Civil War battlegrounds, while the more adventurous may get on a plane for a family journey overseas. Think back … did you take any memorable family trips as a child? Or later with your own children? What were the high or low points? Share your Family Trips stories forward.
On this 4th of July weekend, some people may celebrate with guns instead of fireworks. When we were kids we saw people shooting each other on TV and in movies all the time, but didn’t give it much thought. While guns have always been part of our culture, mass shootings in recent years have made gun control a major issue. Think back … Did you learn to shoot a gun when you were young? Did you know people who had guns for hunting or for protection? Has your perception of guns changed over the years? Share your Guns Then and Now stories forward.
As young children, we might never have left the house without our “blankie” or favorite toy. Now, keys and cell phones accompany just about all of us as we step out the door. Some people carry heavy purses or suitcases, while others travel light. Perhaps your packing list has grown as you’ve aged, or been trimmed down because of the pandemic. Think back … What couldn’t you do without while away from home? Was there a time when you forgot an essential thing and had to make do? What must you have now? Share your Can’t Leave Home Without It stories forward.
Quiz shows are tests of knowledge, while game shows involve a combination of chance and skill. You Bet Your Life and What’s My Line? were staples in the ‘50s, while the ‘60s brought Password, The Match Game, and many others. Think back … what quiz or game shows did you watch as a child? As an adult? Did you ever try to become a contestant, or know anyone else who did? Do you still watch any of these shows? Share your quiz and game shows stories forward.
It’s more than semantics. Cliques are groups with shared interests who don’t welcome others to join them. Clubs are also groups with a common interest, but for the most part they welcome members. Think back … were you ever part of a clique or a club, or excluded from one? Share your Cliques and Clubs stories forward.
T.S. Eliot tells us, “The naming of cats is a difficult matter.” This is true for all of the pets in our lives. From beloved dogs and cats to birds, hamsters, and lowly goldfish, we have all bestowed names on our pets. Think back … to the pet names popular at different stages of your life. Do names like Spot, Puff, Lassie, Rover, Lady, King, and Princess ring a bell? How did you decide what to name your pet? If you have never had a pet to name, tell us why not. Share your naming pets stories forward.
Initially, recycling was a novelty, and many considered it a fringe activity. Now we recycle glass, paper, plastic, and metal without a thought, and even save food scraps for compost. Think back … when did you first start recycling? Were you skeptical or enthusiastic about it? Has your attitude changed, and if so, how? Does recycling really make a difference? Share your Recycling stories forward.
Woody Allen, Bill Cosby, J.K. Rowling … just a few of the many artists who have said or done offensive or objectionable things. Does this mean we should boycott their art? Think back … were there artists that you or your family avoided in your childhood? Are there now? Or can you enjoy the art even if you hate the artist? Share your separating the art from the artist stories forward.
