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I Remember Her!

My sister, Jackie, sent me this photo. See the huge glasses, the giant hoop earrings and the dangles on my shirt? I can’t see the pants but I imagine they were bell-bottoms. They weren’t jeans, my parents didn’t allow me to wear them.

I’m having a little trouble placing the exact time the picture was taken. That looks like a diploma in my hands, but Erin made me that blouse the summer between 9th and 10th grade. I have an 8th grade diploma, a high school diploma and a college diploma. I do not have a 9th or 10th grade diploma. (I bet no one does!)

Some day I will look like this again, only without the huge glasses, hoop earrings, dangles on my shirt, glossy hair and fresh skin ….

Thanks for the photo, Jackie!

Quilly is the pseudonym of Charlene L. Amsden, who lives on The Big Island in Hawaii. When she is not hanging out with Amoeba, she is likely teaching or sewing. Or she could be cooking, taking photographs, or even writing. But if she's not doing any of that, she's probably on Facebook or tinkering with her blog.

31 Comments

  2. Looks like some of the stuff I used to wear! Isn’t it weird to look at us in old pictures? What was I thinking always comes to mind.

  5. Oh my, that sure is soem fashion, I am terrified at one point it will come back and we all will think it is fab.

    You look lovely though!

  8. I used to look like this too, but in the late 80’s (minus ANY type of bell bottoms). haha

    LOL @OC. Something tells me you could live with this gal – HOWEVER she looks. 🙂

  9. Melli — those homemade clothes were the height of style, but still the kids teased me.

    Jill — what was everyone thinking?

    Silver — thank you.

    Polona — thank you, too.

    Minka — If it comes back into fashion I’ll get out my sewing machine and make you a shirt just like that.

    OC — sigh :*

    Dr. John — Why would I take a picture with someone else’s diploma? And I look exactly like that now, only 31 years older, grayer and fatter.

    Donna — your hair was bigger.

  10. I saw my class picture a while ago, from back when we were Seniors (1977) and all I could think of was, “And we thought we looked good!” The girls all had the same hairstyle (parted in the middle and hanging string straight), we all had the same glasses (teardrop shaped, wire rims and lenses that lightened and darkened accordingly), the girls all wore similar dresses that showed our knees (knees are ugly!) and to top it all off, all our shoes were pretty much alike as well (I call them clodhoppers now and I just can’t remember what they were really called…)

  11. Quilly-Sister, I’m pretty sure that’s your 8th grade diploma. And you are welcome.

    OC – for God’s sake – the girl is in the 8th grade!!

  12. Jackie — I graduated from 8th grade in Bonner’s Ferry. I baby-sat for Erin when I was in 9th grade and we lived in Hayden Lake. Erin made me that shirt. Plus, in the 8th grade my hair was the same length all the way around, and I did a good imitation of Cousin It.

    And please see Donna’s comment to OC. I’m going with that one.

    Memory Update: My 8th grade graduation picture was taken with Governor Andrus. Behind us would have been red velvet curtains from the school stage. He spoke at our ceremony (first graduating 8th grade in the new school) and I got to meet him and have my picture taken with him because I won the school contest for writing the school song (which they still sing today). Also, at my 8th grade graduation, I wore a pink, floor length dress and had my hair in a Gibson Girl bun. Somebody find that picture!

  13. Hahahahhahaha Sometimes I’m glad I’m too young to remember the 70s. The 80s were bad enough and don’t get me started on 90s grunge….

  14. I have a sweater my Mum knit for me many years ago, it is tattered and old but I love it dearly. Homemade things mean more to me than any store bought thing period. When I wear my sweater I think of my Mum and and how she’d knit something for everyone for Christmas.

    I am also reminded of Dolly Parton’s song “Coat of Many Colors”.

    A wonderful weekend is wished for you

  16. Mumma — that 80’s hair was unreal. It out starched starch!

    Bill — that’s one of the reasons I remember the shirt. It was one of the most fashionable things in my wardrobe. I hope your weekend is wonderful as well.

    Nea — I’d certainly treat my body better this time around.

  17. I wouldn’t go back to being a teenager again even if I could!

    In grade school crocheted vests were all the rage. I had them in every color. Kids and teachers alike thoaght my mother had made them all for me, and I let them think that. I was too embarrassed to tell them that I had made most them myself! It was cool to have your mom make you stuff, it was nerdy and uncool to make it yourself!

    By junior high school “Love Story” had come out, and I was selling crocheted hats and scarves to some teachers and students untill the principle decided that it was against district rules and made me stop.

    I do listen to Dr. Troll, I just don’t always follow his directions exactly. If I had followed doctor’s orders in my life, I’d be dead (long story). So I listen then follow my insticts. My insticts have never lead me wrong…for long.

  18. Jan — I made my own clothes from time-to-time. My crocheting never got beyond scarves and slippers. I am more into embroidery — or was before my hands decided to go numb all the time.

    As to following Doc’s orders — I was teasing you. You did note the second half of that comment?

  20. Oh, I knOw Quilly! If you didn’t buy all your clothes from the Gap or whatever was the HOT store in your area at the time — I know…. for me, I had to have a blue-jean jacket from Counts Western Wear. It was just a LEE jacket… and you could buy ’em at JC Penney for $30 — but at COUNTS they cost $50! But if you didn’t buy it at Counts you were NOBODY! Well… MY mom wasn’t even spending $30 on a BLUE JEAN JACKET!!! lol! But I babysat! And I saved! And I GOT it! I was stupid!

    And the kids did the same thing to my daughter — when Amanda was little I made ALL her clothes. Well, when she got into school, she was PROUD of those clothes I made for her — she loved being able to say “My mom MADE this for me” …. but the other kids didn’t think that was so great. By Junior High I conceded and started buying her the OP’s and some of the lesser brands. She never did have a pair of GUESS jeans though!!! She got over it!

  21. i have been reading your posts since i now have a feed reader but of course my comments are few and far between..sorry…
    life is still much on and with little say on my part..yet, i enjoy your daily posts and feel for you when you don’t have computer, heat (just can’t believe this ongoing issue) and your roses dilemma (how absolutely romantic of you to send them, my type of girl!)…he is such a lucky guy i tell you but i am sure he knows that..it is so great to read you happy and in love-you deserve love so very much and a good man to appreciate all your beauty inside and out..

    about this post, i love the pic! you look like i did. i wore those clothe and those big eyeglasses…it is always a mix bag for me to look at old me pics..they show a girl that is long gone 🙂

    you are looking great to me. you are working hard at being healthier and Curves is just your tool. good for you…don’t forget that while you look at older pics-how absolutely wonderful you are inside and out.

  22. Donna — I wasn’t specifically refering to your hair — but having gone back and looked — definately, your hair is bigger (but still very moderate by 80’s standards).

    Melli — I didn’t appreciate all of my homemade clothes. If they’d have tried a little to at least make them look like everyone else’s I would have faired a bit better. The closest thing I had to modern was that blouse, and a couple of peasant dresses I’d made myself.

    Chana — I have missed you and think of you often! How great to see your comment again. You are always in my prayers and my heart. Come when you can.

  23. Just imagine what kind of academic results you would get with real cash. Real, hard currency. Now there’s a worthy government program for the education, worthy of our tax dollars.

    Just think of it: Okay class, if you listen, take notes and you score 80 percent or higher on the quiz I am going to give you on what you are about to learn, I will give you one hundred dollars!

    I bet you could hear a pin drop during that lecture. We would revolutionize education overnight.

    I am a genius.

  24. Dear Genius, this comment should be on the, Ice Cream & Bologna, post. It isn’t. But welcome back to the blogosphere anyway, Tom! I have missed you.

    Your idea for paying students for their grades would certainly lower the drop-out level and improve behavior and promote listening. Especially the listening of the voters who would have to fork out the tax dollars.

  25. I just figured that out when I dropped back by here. Opps, I must have scrolled down too fast and hit the comment button under the next post.

    Well, my bloggin skills are a bit rusty after all.

    Nice to be back. Keep up the anecdotes of an educator.

    I actually used that technique when I homeschooled my oldest son. We would go on road trips and I would keep a big wad of change in the car. He’d pick a subject and I would give a short lecture. Then I would say, “for a quarter, what is the meaning of…” By the time we got to our destination he had some money to spend (he was 8 years old so three or four dollars seemed like lot to him) and had learned a few things. Plus it helped to pass the time.

    Seems like I may have told you this before on one of your posts.

    Anyway. Have a nice day.

    T

  27. What a great picture and thanks for sharing. My first thought was I could really see the resemblance there between you and mom and Auntie Caryl. Which is a good thing, because I think you’re all beautiful.

  29. Thank you, Brooke. When I look at that picture I don’t see Jackie or Caryl. I only see me.

    Doug — see my sister Jackie’s comment to OC. 😀 (Oh, and thank you.)

  31. Gawpo — only when I rode my bike. Once I didn’t bother and ended up taking off my jeans while hiding in the bushes beside a major throughfare, because I had to work my pant leg out of the chain. I learned to keep rubberbands on my handlebars.

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