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.