...that bike."
Okay, to be honest, no one has ever said that to me (feel free though).
I graduated from junior high in June, 1974. Yes, that was a long time ago. Yes, I am old.
For gifts, many of my friends received new Schwinn bikes from their parents. My parents understandably said, "If you want one of those expensive bikes, you'll have to save up and buy one for yourself."
So I saved.
For a year.
(Think about this, I made about a dollar an hour for baby-sitting at the time. I also bought Christmas gifts for family and friends and had to pay for my own "fun stuff"--this includes movies at the Elk Grove Cinema, and many different colors of nail polish.
The following June I walked into Elk Grove Schwinn and bought, for $147.95 (plus tax), a russet colored ten-speed Continental. My first ride was the three miles home. Boy, I was so proud of that bike. I rode it like crazy and locked it wherever I went; I even locked it in my own garage. I inflated the tires (to 90 psi) each time I rode it, and I wiped it dry if I ever got caught riding in the rain.
A year into owning it, it fell over, and the handlebar tape was torn about a half centimeter. That remains its only boo-boo.
I had it tuned up when Mac was little, and I rode him around in a helmet and baby-seat.
I haven't actually ridden this bike in about 20 years. But I still have it.
Why? I guess because I earned it, I valued it, I loved it.
So...
This week's question of the week is:
What "silly" thing do you hold onto that few others would understand your attachment to?
We all have snips of our babies' hair or special photos or ticket stubs from concerts, but I guess I'm looking for something less "trinkety." Like, my friend Brenda for the longest time held onto the dress she wore at her H.S. graduation. Still have it B? And Debbie, who I was chatting with at church last week still has her Barbie AND her Barbie Dream House.
Come on, do tell...
14 Shared Thoughts:
Dear Ellie,
I too had a Schwinn Continental.
Mine was baby blue. I received it
as a gift from my parents when I was in 6th grade. I think my parents bought if for me because I
was so well behaved compared to my
two older brothers.
Yes, up until 2 years ago, I still
had my High School graduation dress. The professional organizer
who finally made me part with it
said I was a "nostalgic hoarder".
I moved so often that my wardrobe
told the story of my life. We lived in Wisconsin. My brother and I drove to Woodfield-big trip-to
buy that dress. He bought it for me. I gave the commencement speech
in that dress. Good thing I am over it (ha,ha).
As for now, the only thing I still have are my uniforms from American Airlines.
They come in handy at Halloween.
Somedays when the kids are getting
on my nerves, I look at them to remind myself that I used to have a very interesting,exciting life, even though I had to wear polyester
to do so.
Thanks for letting me go down memory lane. Okay people, fess up.
Brenda
Now that is what I call thrifty! I have several or at least a few shirts from Grateful Dead shows.. they're about that old and I just can't get rid of them... and they don't fit either, come to think of it :) (:
Anne
I have a 4 leaf clover I found in the backyard of my childhood home, I think I know where it's at.
~~Harry
I have a lacy black tank top that I bought at a 1981 Bruce Springsteen concert. I wore it A LOT when I was young and lithe -- with tight jeans, high heels (Candies), and, sometimes a suede fringe vest and cowboy hat. (remember Urban Cowboy? --YIKES!) Anyway, I still have it, and recently pulled it out to show my sons. With a far-away look in my eyes, I recounted my Glory Days (get it? Bruce Springsteen? Glory Days? -- whatever...) as a young, skinny hot chick. They were mortified at the thought of their mom parading around in such garb and begged me to never again torment them with visuals of me as a sweet young thang. Now, whenever I want to shut them up or just annoy them, I threaten to try the tank top on and see how it fits nowadays. They run screaming from the room.
I still own and WEAR my umbros from 6th grade. I also have Maeve's umbilical cord stump sitting on her changing table. I know it is gross, but I don't want to throw it away and yet I don't know what to do with it. Do you think I am disgusting now?
Megan
I have my clown rattle doll from when I was born in my room!
Victoria Grace
Because I know how much you love blog comments... :)
I still have both my "Bear Bear" and my blankey from the tender age of newborn. Bear Bear resides with me at school while blankey is at home. That way I always have one or the other with me at night.
As a testament to our ridiculous relationship, Justin now "kidnaps" Bear Bear whenever we go to our own homes.
I got jealous however that he was taking Bear Bear with him, so.. enter Fjord... our traveling bear. Made at Build-A-Bear, he wears a flannel shirt, hat, and overalls. He has a journal and we send him back and forth on alternating trips, so one of us always has him, while the other has Bear Bear.
In addition, though it wasn't too many years ago, I still own, and frequently wear, my prom dress. I paid good money for that thing, I'll wear it around the house on a semi-routine basis for as long as I fit into it. I have this nagging feeling I'll one day do that with my wedding gown as well.
My family thinks I'm completely insane...
:)
Hope you enjoyed!
I, like several others who posted, still have my old stuffed frog named Frog (I was so creative at ten, wasn't I?)laying on my bed. Frog used to be pink and fluffy and had a crown - now he is bald all over and his crown is history. Frog is 41 years old and I still love him so. He always made me feel better when I was sick, and he made the rounds in my family too, because they recognized his healing powers. My husband has patiently accepted sharing our bed with Frog all of these years - you have to love a man like that. I think Frog will be with me physically and spiritually when I leave this earth.
Pam C.
I still have my old "Loop" shirt.....the original not the "remake" version they're selling now. I also have dozens of concert tickets stubs from the
80's.
Carol R.
(imported from facebook)
Oh my goodness, I love the answers you're coming up with! Thanks for playing along.
Joan, I love your story of the tank top. You were a lithe little thing back in HS. I'll bet you still are!
Megan, new mommies get to do pretty much whatever they want with stuff like cord stubs.
Victoria, for those of you who don't know, is an emerging star. Her mom will show that rattle to ET viewers one day.
And Kayla, did you ever see the friends episode where the girls hang out in wedding dresses? I'm laughing here! Tomorrow is my anniversary, should I wear my dress?
Ellen,
I still have the blue backpack I used while traveling around Spain. It hangs in the basement so I pass it when doing laundry. The girls can't believe that was all I had to hold my belongings for a semester. When Katie went to London she had 3 large suitcases, her laptop, cellphone, and ipod. I used to write letters and made an occasional call home (expensive) and NO ONE had a computer. The world has definitely changed and I'm showing my age. I still have a stuffed cat my older sister made for me when I was little. It was made of terry cloth, but it had no nap left. It was much loved and I too put on my bed. My husband doesn't mind much. Maybe explains my love of cats. We have Katie's cat now for a year and she is finally coming out from hiding. My cats don't quite know what's going on with Bijou (we call her killer) She has claws and uses them.
I wish I still had my Louis Vitton and Gucci handbags. A few years ago I cleaned out a closet (hadn't used them in years) and they went to the Goodwill. My girls could have KILL me as now they would be vintage. Just trying to clean out the clutter. Who knew?
-Renee :-)
I have a prayer rug from Kuwait from an old boyfriend. It must be about 37 yrs. old. It's red and not fancy (meaning it probably didn't cost much) and I believe it is for Muslim prayer. I don't ever use it. Its hanging in my closet but I can't seem to get rid of it.
After confessing my Barbie Dream House to Ellen, I actually went home and retrieved it from its dusty little corner of the basement. Poor Barbie was suffocating in there in the same outfit she's been wearing for ,,, oh let's say about 40 years!
So I changed her outfit, set up the furniture and laughed outloud to see on Barbie's bedroom wall was a very yellowed black and white mag photo cut-out (from Teen Mag maybe?) of her heartthrob, Davy Jones!
So not only do I 'still have ,,' but now evidently I 'still play with ,,' ,,, so does this blog comment also qualify for the 'guilty pleasures' blog?
p.s. I still have my blankie too ,,, my grandma made it for me over 50 years ago ,,, it's more blankie threads, but there's no way that's going away!
Debbie H
Debbie--
I LOVE THIS! How fun you are!
Barbie appreciates you, and so do I.
Ellie
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