By John Matonich
One of the local papers I read regularly does a real nice job of reprinting articles from various years in our local history. It is fun to see pictures of folks I knew when they got engaged or went into the service. Recently, I was the recipient of one of the “remember when” articles.
The year was 1977 and I was a senior in high school. Yes, I know it was a long time ago and, no, it wasn’t before the voyage of Chris Columbus. I happened to serve as the president of the student council that year and it was also the year when our high school was reviewed for accreditation. I don’t know if they still do that, but it was a big deal back then.
Because I was student council prez, I was asked to sit down with one of the evaluators and answer some questions about the school, its staff and curriculum. While I was answering questions, a reporter from the local paper snapped a picture and, voila, it appeared in the paper back then and was reprinted on its 40 year anniversary.
Some people, of course, couldn’t resist ribbing me after the photo hit the paper because on that fateful day I happened to have been wearing a pair of bib overalls. In 1977 a lot of guys wore bib overalls and I was one of them. After the show “Hee-Haw” become popular, the bib thing seemed to fade fast and unless you drive a tractor or shovel manure today, you don’t see those worn much. Well, I happened to be wearing a pair that day and of course the picture tells the story.
Another reason I received a few off-color comments was my hair. Remember, this was 1977. Big hair was very common and while mine at that time wasn’t all that big, it was much bigger than it is today. It also wasn’t really long but it kind of frizzed out and looked a little closer to a Brillo pad than I guess it should. That picture was just fodder for laughs at my expense. I simply smiled. Life is a long road and what goes around, comes around. Meaning: Others will get theirs.
See, that paper will continue to print old articles and my guess is I will get a chance for pay-backs at some point.
I did smile when I saw the picture. It reminded me of a much simpler time when your thoughts were to the future and where you were going and how you would get there. I have been pretty lucky and the journey I have traveled has been pretty good to me, so I guess some can have their laughs. I am not done traveling my life journey yet and a look back can be fun once in awhile.
To be honest, I still have a pair of bib overalls and I wear them about every day I am in my woodshop. They are durable and functional. My hair is still a little frizzy, but a lot grayer and I am just happy at my age to have some that could resemble a Brillo pad.
And that’s the situation as I survey it …
After a 35-year career downstate amongst da trolls, during which he built a successful engineering and surveying business, John Matonich is back home in da U.P. His column will appear here occasionally, don’tcha know. His book “Surveyin’ Da Situation” is available on Amazon.com.
Image credit: Hans Erickson
I laugh at 1970s pictures of myself. The hair and clothing choices were very stylish then but now – they are horrific. 1970s car pictures on the other hand are epic. Perhaps when we are young, we should try to emulate cars in our grooming and fashion standards. If I could look like a 1972 Plymouth Barracuda, nobody would laugh at my appearance. 🙂
You so right on all counts, Working Dad. I remember the cars very well and maybe someday will be able to get… I am a Chevy fan so a Chevelle SS would be nice…
Recently while browsing youtube for historical sites in my area, I came across old game footage of my high school football team, that someone preserved and uploaded. There was even a short one minute clip of the guys in the locker room getting ready for the game. I hadn’t seen any of them in 25 years and forgotten most of their names, but suddenly while watching it, their names and memories of them started rushing back and I could remember it all like yesterday. Those were great times.
John! How could you write this, but not share the photo?! Will you please post it, for us to see? If you post it, I will send you a silly picture of myself, about 1975. I look ridiculous in the photo, but I remember that at the time, I thought I looked extremely cool.
I like memories like those as well, Fred… The smiles are special…
Sorry, Tom… I know I should have…don’t know how to post it on this site. It is a poor picture, but will email to Andy…maybe he can put it soewhere
I think you can post it in a comment. But send it to me and I’ll make it part of the column.
John – I totally sympathize! I do not know how to do that kind of stuff either. I just assumed, since you are a Major Blog Celebrity, that you knew how to post anything.
Looks like Andy was able to pull it up…I had to smile over the blog celeb comment.. I will have to make sure my wife reads that…maybe i will get out of some work around the house…but I doubt it
We all looked like dorks back then but I sure wish I could go back and be a dork again.
sometimes me too 🙂
Yearbooks and Wedding photo books remind us of how fast time goes by. I came across this saying “attributed to Author Unknown”:
Photography is a tough life: You can be taken, framed, exposed, shot , captured, and hung all in the same day.
Dorky or not, we still enjoy looking at them!
Great column!
Thank you, Linda Ann…appreciate it…
I enjoyed your article John.
Your thoughts bring back memories of my high school years, Class 1973.
In the late sixites and early seventies, everyone thought they were cool, anything went, no one really cared.
I remember those times well….