Welcome to my eclectic journey of my life and delights. This year my theme is surrendering my writing pen to the true author, Jesus Christ, while looking forward to the future, reflecting on the past and dancing through my journey.




Thursday, July 22, 2010

Feeling Groovy Year - 5th Grade



Remembering back to fifth grade, the years of 1971 to 1972, I start to sing this song.  The song was already old by the time I hit 5th grade, but it reminds me of the feelings during that era.  Peace signs weren’t allowed in our home, nor many of the popular singing groups, but I still heard the songs of that time. Country music was the norm in our home...I guess they thought was it more wholesome.  My father had very strong opinions against VW because of their connection with Hitler.  Drugs and flower children were seen around our liberal University city. “Feelin’ Groovy” would describe this laid back time of my life, even if the country was still dealing with war.

Our family still lived in a 1100 square feet home with one bath and six residents. I never remember feeling cramped, even though my mother retells how hard it was for her to organize all of us.



During these years, my mother inspired my sister and I to expand our creative side by decorating our room.  Dad built custom- designed bookshelves with a desk attached to the wall.  We had two windows on different walls and a shared bed.  We went to work.  Our choice – the closet door was painted in enamel florescent orange we found  with multi-"put-ons," daisies in yellow, pink, green which were arranged all over the closet door.  Our windows had lime polka-dotted awning curtains with orange zigzag rickrack trim.  The desk top was painted in enamel yellow….was that bright enough?  The multi-colors adorned our bed.



I would enjoy girl scouts again and go off to over-night camp. I still possess the tie with autographs from my fellow campers.  I played hand-bells during the school Christmas program. My school activities included choir and patrolette, along with Texas Readers Club.  I continued to learn to sew, as learned skills were placed as a top priority over reading.  I never remember my parents reading, even though I am sure they did.  My father read Gun and Ammo magazines stored in the bathroom.  Instead of reading time, I would learn to cook, sew, embroidery, how to shoot a gun as well as barrel riding on my grandfather’s horse.  I remember joining my father on all of the outdoor chores from shoveling dirt (and manure), planting a  garden and mowing the grass.  Our hands were never idle.


I am continuing on my journey of recording my youth in 15 post with Mommy Piggy Tale...I am half way there.  



15 Joining in with more words:

Ginny Marie said...

Doesn't that song bring back good memories? So funny that you wrote about it during the same week that I did! We had one "popular" record in our house, and Simon and Garfunkel was it. Otherwise, we listened to classical.

So glad I'm in your group! :)

Cindy said...

My part of the room I shared with two sisters when I was in fifth grade was done in pink, yellow and orange. Memories! lol

Cindy said...

Oh, I forgot...the peace sign and rock music also wasn't allowed either. Baptist. Need I say more? lol

Carrie @ Cottage Cozy said...

~thanks for the memories~ i had that same VW Bug sticker...in fact I once owned a bug painted with Kool Cigarette advertisements....I got paid monthly to drive it around like that!

Carrie @ Cottage Cozy said...

Oh by the way we had 7 children in one dormitory-like bedroom for years! It was fun!!!

Deborah Ann said...

Hi, just found your blog. I had to crank up the speakers for that good old song! That really took me back.

Blessings!

Sandy said...

Hi Janette,
Just found your blog today and
have been enjoying it. I was a
true flower child of the 60's.
That song brings back good
memories. My parents were older
than most of my friends' parents.
They allowed me to listen to all
the pop music of that era. My
favorites were The Beatles. It
really takes me back to hear some
of my son's friends listening to
the same music I listened to back
then.

Debi said...

I'm feelin' 'groovy' too after listening and reading. You were blessed, it's obvious! And it's plain to see - you use those creative skills today. Bless you!

Anonymous said...

So fun, reminiscing....I was in my very first sit in, maybe a year or two just before, protesting the Vietnam War that was coming to an end and I got in trouble at school. All I had to hear was "Do I have to call your parents?" and I was back in class in a second.

gianna said...

Could you even sleep at night with all those colors? Seriously! That's beyond glow in the dark!

Beth Herring said...

my sister and i had those same put-on daisies, but my mom wouldn't let us stick 'em anywhere except on our mirror where they would peel off. i put some on my binder back then as well. i loved the way the smelled!

i love this post today Janette.

Aspiring Mom2three said...

I'm going to have that song running through my head all day now! When I was growing up, the only radio station we had was country. How neat that your mom gave you two the freedom to decorate. How fun!

Diane at Perfectly Imperfect Life said...

Man would I love to see a picture of that bedroom - your mom was very brave to let you girls have full control. :-) Not sure I could do it.

Debbie Petras said...

I love that you learned to shoot a gun and barrel riding; how cool! Feeling Groovy was a song I heard too. My room was covered in posters. We lived in an old house with wood walls that were not conducive to painting. Thanks for sharing these memories Janette. I'm loving it.

Love,
Debbie

Simple Home said...

You are so good at bringing back my own memories with your posts. I had my own room though, because we had only two kids in our family. I went on a lot of girl scout campouts too.
Blessings,
Marcia

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