This was such a pleasure to read Laura with waves of nostalgia transporting me back to me back to 1976. :-) Even in my small hometown in Maine we had quite the celebration — unlike any before or since. The preparations began months in advance and the anticipation was palpable. Thanks for sharing your memories.
I connected with so much here--except the part about the cataracts, though I'm excited that you're having surgery! I can't wait to hear about your new life in color.
I too was 12 in 1976. There was SO much build up to the bicentennial--I mean, for years! My two best friends and I went trick-or-treating as "Uncle Sam's Girls" for Halloween 1975, which meant that one of us wore all red, another all white, and the third all blue (I was red, which for some reason was the least desirable of the colors--I must have been on the outs the week we decided who was wearing what). However, my military family moved to Germany a month before July 4th, 1976, so I missed the culmination of all that patriotic frenzy.
Wearing clothes that were slightly too old and that made me uncomfortable was admittedly more of a 7th grade experience for me, but I remember that feeling so well!
I was 5'4" in 6th grade. Never grew an inch taller, but because I was one of the tallest kids in my class, I'm *still* confused when someone refers to me as short. Pardon me, sir, but I am a giant!
I had no feelings at all about our 250th. It's just too painful to think about, what with our constitution in tatters and so many important advances being rolled back. I try to remain hopeful, and life throws enough amazing young people in my path give me hope, but some days it's hard. (Also, I don't love fireworks or watermelon, so the 4th has never been my favorite.)
I love your sibling quilts, and I love the idea of sibling quilts!
So many similarities! both missing the culmination — me on my foggy island and you out of the country — and we're the same age and height (pretty much) too!
I'm excited to get the new sibling quilt photographed, when they're this big it's hard to get a proper view.
I had my cataract surgery in March and am still in a state of wonder at how blue the world is. And how bright all the fabrics in my stash, which leans heavily blue, are. Yellow filters blue light. Remove the yellow/brown cataracts and POW!!! Blue, teal, green, violet……
I had not known that the surgery would be fun. It was quite a light show. Add the contribution of a skilled anesthetist and I was back in the 60s!
As for the 4th of July……I’m having a hard time having a happy 4th so I’m settling on having a hopeful one. I’ll finish quilting and may even get the binding on a quilt that spent too much time waiting to be finished. And I’m using my favorite thread —- Aurifil Crème Brule — cuz it makes me happy.
That's what my husband said too! so much blue that even white looked blue. I'm excited esp since I work as a graphic designer and am worried my palettes lately have been off. Happy stitching today! I'm binding a quilt too.
I had cataracts early too. Improved eyesight at the end is the positive but you have to get through stages of less than optimal vision. I got very friendly with strangers as I was always waving at people just in case I might know them during that time when I couldn’t quite see distances. Hope your journey is a smooth one.
Hilarious! I'm sure I'll be waving at everyone too. I can hardly make out faces as it is now. Both my husband and sister just went through it so I know all about the endless appointments. It's a looooong process to get to where you can see but both of them are really happy now. Sounds like you are too!
I am indeed and my sister (who was legally blind) found at first it was disconcerting to reach for her glasses on waking and realize she didn't need them anymore. She doesn't use any except for close work.
My gosh, we’re the same age and I distinctly remember our West Coast Bicentennial celebration being juatvaa tacky. My mom even made matching red/white/blue halter tops ams shorts sets for my sisters and me. (I gotta find that picture!).
This year, it is all i can so to hang an America 250 flag. I have noticed that my very res town has quietly replaced Trump flags with the 250 flags. Maybe there’s a quiet revolution in the works?
I too recall a much different vibe in ‘76. There was more excitement, Bicentennial-themed school programs, community events, and the highlight for me was a visit to the Freedom Train when it made a stop in Memphis. This time, it just feels like nothing special. I suppose we’ll just have to carry on and keep doing things that make us happy, like starting a new quilt!
I was 15 in 1976. I remember the Bicentennial being a big deal. Love the photo of your class. We went into Seattle, to a high rise , to watch the Bicentennial fireworks show.
This year is so different and frustrating. You covered all my frustration also. We have a few other things in common. Our first name, we are Quilters and I had cataract surgery last summer ( also surgery for glaucoma). I would think the new lenses would improve your vision. Hope all goes well.
Some year I want to plan ahead and go to the outdoor guilt show in Sisters Oregon. I always think about to late.
Kindred spirits! it really is shocking how this year compares with 1976... as for Sister's that is a quilt show I'm unlikely ever to attend, even living within a few hours of it. The town is tiny with one main road in and out that is full of traffic most of the time in the summer, let alone during the quilt show, and it's very crowded and very hot. So not my thing! But for those who can deal with that, it's apparently really wonderful...
My grandparents had a log home in SunRiver ,when it was new. Our family would be there in the summer. My husband and I were there with his family about 15 years ago. We drove to Sisters, but just missed the Quilt show. I didn't realize it was only 1 day then.
This was such a pleasure to read Laura with waves of nostalgia transporting me back to me back to 1976. :-) Even in my small hometown in Maine we had quite the celebration — unlike any before or since. The preparations began months in advance and the anticipation was palpable. Thanks for sharing your memories.
SUCH a different time...
I connected with so much here--except the part about the cataracts, though I'm excited that you're having surgery! I can't wait to hear about your new life in color.
I too was 12 in 1976. There was SO much build up to the bicentennial--I mean, for years! My two best friends and I went trick-or-treating as "Uncle Sam's Girls" for Halloween 1975, which meant that one of us wore all red, another all white, and the third all blue (I was red, which for some reason was the least desirable of the colors--I must have been on the outs the week we decided who was wearing what). However, my military family moved to Germany a month before July 4th, 1976, so I missed the culmination of all that patriotic frenzy.
Wearing clothes that were slightly too old and that made me uncomfortable was admittedly more of a 7th grade experience for me, but I remember that feeling so well!
I was 5'4" in 6th grade. Never grew an inch taller, but because I was one of the tallest kids in my class, I'm *still* confused when someone refers to me as short. Pardon me, sir, but I am a giant!
I had no feelings at all about our 250th. It's just too painful to think about, what with our constitution in tatters and so many important advances being rolled back. I try to remain hopeful, and life throws enough amazing young people in my path give me hope, but some days it's hard. (Also, I don't love fireworks or watermelon, so the 4th has never been my favorite.)
I love your sibling quilts, and I love the idea of sibling quilts!
Hope all goes well with the surgery!
So many similarities! both missing the culmination — me on my foggy island and you out of the country — and we're the same age and height (pretty much) too!
I'm excited to get the new sibling quilt photographed, when they're this big it's hard to get a proper view.
I had my cataract surgery in March and am still in a state of wonder at how blue the world is. And how bright all the fabrics in my stash, which leans heavily blue, are. Yellow filters blue light. Remove the yellow/brown cataracts and POW!!! Blue, teal, green, violet……
I had not known that the surgery would be fun. It was quite a light show. Add the contribution of a skilled anesthetist and I was back in the 60s!
As for the 4th of July……I’m having a hard time having a happy 4th so I’m settling on having a hopeful one. I’ll finish quilting and may even get the binding on a quilt that spent too much time waiting to be finished. And I’m using my favorite thread —- Aurifil Crème Brule — cuz it makes me happy.
Enjoy the day and I hope the surgeries go well.
That's what my husband said too! so much blue that even white looked blue. I'm excited esp since I work as a graphic designer and am worried my palettes lately have been off. Happy stitching today! I'm binding a quilt too.
I had cataracts early too. Improved eyesight at the end is the positive but you have to get through stages of less than optimal vision. I got very friendly with strangers as I was always waving at people just in case I might know them during that time when I couldn’t quite see distances. Hope your journey is a smooth one.
Hilarious! I'm sure I'll be waving at everyone too. I can hardly make out faces as it is now. Both my husband and sister just went through it so I know all about the endless appointments. It's a looooong process to get to where you can see but both of them are really happy now. Sounds like you are too!
I am indeed and my sister (who was legally blind) found at first it was disconcerting to reach for her glasses on waking and realize she didn't need them anymore. She doesn't use any except for close work.
interesting! my sister still hasn’t thrown out her contacts and its been a year . . .
My gosh, we’re the same age and I distinctly remember our West Coast Bicentennial celebration being juatvaa tacky. My mom even made matching red/white/blue halter tops ams shorts sets for my sisters and me. (I gotta find that picture!).
This year, it is all i can so to hang an America 250 flag. I have noticed that my very res town has quietly replaced Trump flags with the 250 flags. Maybe there’s a quiet revolution in the works?
And opening a coke can with a spoon!
Please let it be true! Those patriotic halter top sets sound amazing and perfect for 1976.
Apologies for the typos. My red/white/blue fingernails are getting in the way
hahahaha, I hope they're so long you can barely type. That's how it's done. Remember women dialing the phone with a pencil to save their nails?
I too recall a much different vibe in ‘76. There was more excitement, Bicentennial-themed school programs, community events, and the highlight for me was a visit to the Freedom Train when it made a stop in Memphis. This time, it just feels like nothing special. I suppose we’ll just have to carry on and keep doing things that make us happy, like starting a new quilt!
Head down, keep sewing! that's my motto for this weekend
I was 15 in 1976. I remember the Bicentennial being a big deal. Love the photo of your class. We went into Seattle, to a high rise , to watch the Bicentennial fireworks show.
This year is so different and frustrating. You covered all my frustration also. We have a few other things in common. Our first name, we are Quilters and I had cataract surgery last summer ( also surgery for glaucoma). I would think the new lenses would improve your vision. Hope all goes well.
Some year I want to plan ahead and go to the outdoor guilt show in Sisters Oregon. I always think about to late.
Kindred spirits! it really is shocking how this year compares with 1976... as for Sister's that is a quilt show I'm unlikely ever to attend, even living within a few hours of it. The town is tiny with one main road in and out that is full of traffic most of the time in the summer, let alone during the quilt show, and it's very crowded and very hot. So not my thing! But for those who can deal with that, it's apparently really wonderful...
My grandparents had a log home in SunRiver ,when it was new. Our family would be there in the summer. My husband and I were there with his family about 15 years ago. We drove to Sisters, but just missed the Quilt show. I didn't realize it was only 1 day then.