Category Archives: americana

Not Old, Not Seniors – Baby Boomers, Raised By the “Greatest Generation”

Posted on January 28, 2024 by nancsue

“Wouldn’t it be nice if we were older…” Remember when the Beach Boys sang this – and we all agreed? What were we thinking? Back in the day – before all of his legal problems, when so many of us … Continue reading →

Posted in 1960s, Adulthood, age discrimination, american history, americana, cultural history, Generation gap, Growing up, history, Humor, mid-centurians, mid-centurions, Nostalgia, pop culture, retro | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

What a Difference 1500 Miles Makes (in seasons and other things)

Posted on October 30, 2022 by nancsue

Exhibit A of why you never see travel specials for a “fall foliage tour” of North Texas is this first picture- a typical autumn in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas. Yes, every few years, we get an early frost … Continue reading →

Posted in americana, Autumn, Baby Boomers, Halloween, photography, Seasons, Thanksgiving | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

“A Christmas Story” – No Real Moral, Just a Good Story

Posted on December 27, 2020 by nancsue

  This year, I broke down and added A Christmas Story to my holiday movie collection so I could watch it all night, (I mean, literally all night – 24 hours on Christmas Eve), like in the old days (when … Continue reading →

Posted in americana, Christmas, cultural history, cussing, entertainment, f-word, family, Growing up, Holidays, Humor, mid-centurions, middle-class, movies, Nostalgia, obscenities, Parenthood, profanity | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Father’s Day – Even For the Fatherless

Posted on June 18, 2020 by nancsue

So, here comes Father’s Day – a Hallmark holiday I always dreaded as a child, because I didn’t have a father. No, I wasn’t a test tube baby or anything. My parents divorced just shy of my fourth birthday. Mom, … Continue reading →

Posted in Adulthood, Aging, americana, Baby Boomers, Blessings, entertainment, fathers day, Growing up, Holidays, Humor, Motherhood, Parenthood, pop culture, Sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Fear the Fear

Posted on March 11, 2020 by nancsue

In his first inaugural address in 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt said, “… the only thing we have to fear is…fear itself…” So true. The danger is in the fear.

Posted in american history, americana, Baby Boomers, cultural history, Humor, news, Psychology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Maybe You Had to be There…

Posted on December 9, 2019 by nancsue

I was recently privileged to be invited to a Golden Wedding Anniversary of some dear friends. The guy who served as best man in 1969 was at the party, and stood to toast, and say a few words. He began … Continue reading →

Posted in 1960s, aging, american history, americana, Blessings, cultural history, Freedom, Generation gap, history, Humor, mid-centurians, mid-centurions, military, Nostalgia, Patriotism, retro, Vietnam war, wedding anniversary | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Country Music – More Than A High, Lonesome Sound

Posted on November 6, 2019 by nancsue

Country music was not really a part of my life until my mother met my stepfather when I was six years old. Mom was of the Big Band generation, and always kept up with popular music. She bought records – … Continue reading →

Posted in 1960s, american history, americana, celebrities, cultural history, Education, entertainment, Fame, famous people, Growing up, history, Music, Nashville, Grand ol Opry, country music, hillbilly, Nostalgia, pop culture, radio, retro, Success/Failure | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

I’m Rubber and You’re Glue… What Name Offends You?

Posted on September 2, 2019 by nancsue

When I was a kid, the standard response to name-calling was, “Sticks and stones may break my bones. But, words can never hurt me.” Apparently, a lot has changed since my idyllic Baby Boomer childhood. These days, it takes very … Continue reading →

Posted in 1960s, Adulthood, age discrimination, aging, americana, bullying, insults, celebrities, famous people, Growing up, Humor, mid-centurions, movies, Nostalgia, retro, values | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Why I Love Collies

Posted on April 28, 2019 by nancsue

After quite a dry spell – not so much writer’s block as, at worst , starter’s block; at best, finisher’s block, I realized I had to write something – anything. So, with nary a nod to nasty politics, I thought … Continue reading →

Posted in 1960s, american history, americana, Books, cultural history, dogs, Growing up, Literature, mid-centurions, Nostalgia, pop culture, retro, television | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Barbed Wire Fences and Other Baby Boomer Country Memories

Posted on April 6, 2019 by nancsue

Yesterday, I saw something I had not seen in years – a barbed wire fence. It evoked memories of a brief, yet, impactful time of my childhood. We lived, for a time, with my grandmother who lived in a rock … Continue reading →

Posted in american history, americana, cultural history, family, Growing up, Humor, mid-centurions, Nature, Nostalgia, retro | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

In-law Christmas

Posted on December 18, 2018 by nancsue

This next weekend is usually designated as what I used to affectionately call “in-law Christmas,” when you gather with the non-alpha in-laws to celebrate the holiday (as opposed to the real festivities with your actual family). For further clarification, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Adulthood, aging, americana, Christmas, entertainment, family, Humor, mid-centurions, Motherhood, Nostalgia, Parenthood, pop culture, Relationships | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

In-law Thanksgiving

Posted on November 17, 2018 by nancsue

This weekend is usually designated as what I used to affectionately call “in-law Thanksgiving,” when you gather with the non-alpha in-laws to celebrate the holiday (as opposed to the real feast with your actual family). For further clarification, the “alpha … Continue reading →

Posted in Adulthood, Aging, americana, Baby Boomers, cultural history, family, Growing up, Holidays, Humor, Motherhood, Nostalgia, Parenthood, pop culture, television, Thanksgiving | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“First Man” – Not a Movie Review, Just a Baby Boomer’s Perspective

Posted on October 27, 2018 by nancsue

I finally got to the theater again to see a first-run movie – First Man, and unabashedly admit to having thoroughly enjoyed it. In fact, I loved it, and intend to see it again. Unfortunately, if social media is any … Continue reading →

Posted in 1960s, american history, americana, celebrities, cultural history, Education, entertainment, famous people, Generation gap, Growing up, history, Humor, mid-centurians, mid-centurions, movies, news, Nostalgia, pop culture, retro, Science, technology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

New Tennis Shoes – A Whiff of Nostalgia

Posted on August 8, 2018 by nancsue

Ahh… the smell of new tennis shoes. My granddaughter got new tennis shoes today, and while lacing them for her, I got a good whiff of that brand-new sneaker smell. I don’t know whether it’s the fresh canvas or pristine … Continue reading →

Posted in 1960s, americana, Growing up, mid-centurions, Nostalgia | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

First Day of School: Annual Tradition; Rite of Passage, and Universal Theme

Posted on August 24, 2017 by nancsue

As another school year begins, I reflect back a few decades ago, when I wrote a regular newspaper column in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.  The 1988 school year saw my youngest child start kindergarten and my niece go away to … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, americana, Baby Boomers, Education, Growing up, Humor, mid-centurions, Motherhood, Nostalgia, Parenthood | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

What We Have Here is a Failure to Find the Right Reference Point (Or how I learned to communicate with Generation Y)

Posted on June 1, 2017 by nancsue

Mother’s Day weekend, I had the pleasure of visiting with my son and his gf (that’s hip for “girlfriend” – how cool am I!). Somehow, we got on the subject of Bruce Willis’ fame. I immediately referenced Moonlighting.  Despite it’s … Continue reading →

Posted in 1960s, americana, Baby Boomers, celebrities, cultural history, entertainment, Fame, famous people, Generation gap, Humor, movies, Nostalgia, pop culture, television | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

National Chicken Fried Steak Day (chicken or steak?) Blog Redux

Posted on October 26, 2015 by nancsue

October 26 has been designated “CHICKEN FRIED STEAK DAY.” One year, it fell on a Sunday, which only interfered with traditional football fare (wings, chili, chips, dip). I was not born in Texas. So, when I first heard of this … Continue reading →

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Cultural Literacy – Best Learned From Movies andMusic 

Posted on October 18, 2015 by nancsue

Yesterday, coworkers in their 20s offered me Reese’s Pieces. In my best E.T. voice, I said, “E.T., phone home.” They just looked at me like they thought I had Tourette Syndrome. They are in their 20s. I don’t really expect … Continue reading →

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Summer Memories of a Baby Boomer Childhood 

Posted on July 9, 2015 by nancsue

The sights and sounds of summer when I was a child: Catching lightning bugs; Popping tar bubbles on the street on the way to the neighborhood pool; The starry look your eyelashes get and wrinkly fingers after a day of … Continue reading →

Posted in americana, Baby Boomers, cultural history, Growing up, Humor, mid-centurians, mid-centurions, Nostalgia, retro, Seasons | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

It’s WORLD BOOK AND COPYRIGHT DAY. My favorite  books… 

Posted on April 23, 2015 by nancsue

Where do I begin? My mother, though she ultimately lost her sight to Retinitis Pigmentosa, was always an avid reader.  As such, she raised us to share that love of reading.  My earliest favorites included Little Golden Books‘ My First Book … Continue reading →

Posted in americana, Authors, Blindness, Books, cultural history, Growing up, Literature, Poetry, pop culture, Retinitis Pigmentosa, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

‘Twas the Day Before Christmas…

Posted on December 24, 2014 by nancsue

When I was a child, Christmas Eve was the most magical, wonderful – yet, the longest day of the year. My big brother and I woke up very early. But, hey, we weren’t stupid. Well aware the daylight hours would drag … Continue reading →

Posted in 1960s, americana, Baby Boomers, Christmas, cultural history, Growing up, Humor, mid-centurians, mid-centurions, Nostalgia | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Thanksgiving – the Rodney Dangerfield of Holidays

Posted on November 19, 2014 by nancsue

Thanksgiving is one of those inconspicuous, innocuous holidays most people take for granted, much as we take for granted the very things for which we should be thankful. Wedged between six weeks of Halloween and at least three months of … Continue reading →

Posted in americana, Blessings, family, Food, Humor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Where Have All the Bleepin’ Manners Gone?

Posted on September 17, 2014 by nancsue

There are few things I dislike more than sounding like an old fuddy-duddy. Sometimes, however, harking back to my traditional upbringing (that being my point of reference) is the only way to address an issue.  The target of my rant … Continue reading →

Posted in 1960s, americana, Baby Boomers, cultural history, Growing up, history, Humor, television | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

America’s Pastime – Play Ball!

Posted on September 12, 2014 by nancsue

As the regular season of baseball draws to a close – and sadly, neither of “my” teams (the 2013 World Series champs, the Boston Red Sox, nor the Texas Rangers will survive into post-season competition), I thought I would blog … Continue reading →

Posted in americana, cultural history, movies | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A Metal Blast From the Past

Posted on August 28, 2014 by nancsue

In the 1967 film, The Graduate, Mr. McGuire had one word for Dustin Hoffman’s character Benjamin:  “Plastics.”  It’s true. Plastics was the future.   Growing up, however, our lives were all about metals and alloys. Even today, people older than I … Continue reading →

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