Vacations … the very word conjures beaches, mountains, cosmopolitan cityscapes, desolate wilderness. No wonder vacations loom large in our memories. From deep in the doldrums of winter, think back … What was your best vacation? What was your worst vacation disaster? What vacation changed your life? Share your vacation stories forward.
Our generation—the first to grow up with both movies and TV—progressed from Ozzie & Harriet and Bambi to Roots and The Graduate. Our progeny wouldn’t believe what glued us to those tiny black-and-white TV sets or kept us riveted in Saturday matinees. Think back … which movies and TV shows changed your life? Which stars did you idolize or lust after? What would you go back and watch again? Share those stories forward.
The Vietnam War divided the nation, made real to us (or our brothers or boyfriends) by the draft. Some embraced military service, while others chanted “Hell no! We won’t go!” or fled to Canada. Think back … Where did you stand on the war? What was your draft lottery number? Did you watch the Ken Burns documentary? What lessons should America have learned? On this Veterans’ Day, share your draft and Vietnam stories forward.
It’s Valentine’s Day, so think back … to your first crush, first kiss, school dances, making out. Our parents called it puppy love, but to us it was a hormone-laden roller-coaster ride of joy and heartbreak. But perhaps you saw it differently when your children reached that tender age. Share your teenage love stories forward.
Despite our disdain for convention, we were always fashionable—from coonskin caps, blue suede shoes, and poodle skirts to gogo boots and miniskirts. We pulled on pantyhose and dreamed of dancing in our Maidenform bras. Then we burned them. Think back … Bell bottoms, polyester, peace pendants, tie-dye—our style choices defined a generation. Share your fashion adventures forward.
The Roman philosopher Seneca said “Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” The re-launch of Retrospect mixes old memories with new beginnings, past stories with new possibilities. Think back … When in your life did you begin anew? What ideas do you have for new beginnings in the future? Share your starting over stories forward.
Sputnik. Mercury. Star Trek. Star Wars. 2001. The Right Stuff. Cosmos. Between the space race and science fiction, we spent much of our formative years focused on the cosmos. Think back to the moon landing, Kurt Vonnegut, and Carl Sagan. What role did space dreams and sci-fi play in your life? Would you leave Earth to colonize Mars? Share your space stories forward.
Over the course of a life, we make thousands of decisions. Think back … where were the turning points? Had you chosen differently—a different school, career, mate, or life—how would your life have changed? Which path do you regret not taking? Which path are you glad you avoided? If you had your life to live over, what would you change and what would you keep? Share your alternative stories forward.
Too long. Too short. Too curly. Too straight. We braided it, curled it, teased it, permed it, set it, fought with our parents over it. Later, perhaps, it thinned or turned gray, or disappeared altogether. What did hair mean when we were growing up? What does it mean now? Think back … and share your hair stories forward.
Don’t trust anyone over 30. That’s what we said … when we were under 30. Think back … What did you think of your parents and their generation when we were young? Were they squares? Sell-outs? Did they understand you at all? Did your thinking change as time passed? Are you closer to your children now than you were to your parents then? Share your generation gap stories forward.
