The 70's Were Hell Man

In 1970 Richard Nixon was President. Midnight Cowboy won best picture at the Oscars. The Chiefs won the Super Bowl. A first class stamp cost 6 cents. Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin both died of a drug overdose. Blood, Sweat and Tears was album of the year at the Grammys. Four students were killed by National Guardsmen at Kent State University. IBM introduced the floppy disk. During the spring semester of second grade we moved to Trumbull, Connecticut. Sib #4 turned two. I turned eight.

We now lived in a four bedroom house and that meant I got MY OWN ROOM. This was BIG DEAL people. I think my parents felt some guilt about me being the practice child (as all firsts are) and I never again had to share a room. My mother let me choose the wall color for my bedroom and I chose .....Orange. I know it was the 70's and all, but Orange?

In 1974 Richard Nixon resigned the Presidency. Gerald Ford was sworn in as the 38th President of the United States. A first class stamp cost 10 cents. The Sting won the Oscar for best picture. People Magazine debuted with Mia Farrow on the cover. Roberta Flack won a Grammy for "Killing Me Softly with His Song". We moved to Denver, Colorado. Sib #5 turned three. I turned twelve and started middle school.

We still refer to this as "the move west", as though we went in covered wagons. This was strange and uncharted territory. People thought we talked funny. There was so much empty space. There were tumbleweeds blowing down the streets for crying out loud! But the skiing? OMG, made it worth the move. I learned to ski before I learned to ride a bike. And skiing in the Rockies v.s. the suck ass, well anything in New York, Vermont, Massachusetts? Was awesome!

In 1976 Gerald Ford was president. A first class stamp cost 13 cents. One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest won best picture at the Oscars. Captain and Tennille won the best record Grammy for "Love Will keep Us Together". The Yankees lost to Cincinnati in the World Series. America celebrated it's Bicentennial. We moved to Wichita, Kansas. I turned fourteen.

Can you imagine? Truly? The horror of a teen aged girl transplanted to a NEW High School? In KANSAS? I am telling you now, there are limits to my patience and understanding. I did not say a civil word to my parents for a good year. Can you blame me?