Category Archives: pop culture

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

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

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

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

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

Paul McCartney – Yesterday and Today – Stories Now Told

Posted on September 12, 2018 by nancsue

I just read the GQ article “The Untold Stories of Paul McCartney.” https://www.gq.com/story/the-untold-stories-of-paul-mccartney Writer Chris Heath’s interviews with Paul revealed many things even this lifelong fan never knew about the former Beatles/Wings/singer/songwriter/icon for a generation. I was pleased and relieved … Continue reading →

Posted in 1960s, american history, celebrities, cultural history, entertainment, Fame, famous people, history, mid-centurions, Music, news, pop culture, Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Do The Wise Really Need Words?

Posted on April 13, 2018 by nancsue

My mom often used the phrase, “word to the wise” before explaining something to me. When I was old enough to officially think like a smart aleck, I wondered about the wisdom in that idiom, questioning the need for words … Continue reading →

Posted in Adulthood, Baby Boomers, entertainment, Growing up, Humor, mid-centurians, pop culture, Psychology, values | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

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

Airline Abuse at New Altitude 

Posted on May 9, 2017 by nancsue

Airline Atrocities – we all have a story.  With airline atrocities at a new height, the time seems right to share my mine. In the last Century, I wrote a column for the Garland Daily News, that was also carried … Continue reading →

Posted in celebrities, cultural history, Dallas history, famous people, Humor, news, pop culture, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

“Working 9 to 5 – what a way to make a living”

Posted on April 26, 2017 by nancsue

After years of being a secretary, currently called an “administrative professional,” I was able to go home and be a full-time mom.  Fortunately, for many of those mom years,  I was also writing a newspaper column.  In April 1992, I … Continue reading →

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Do The Gifted Lack Honor?Or is it Suppressed by Celebrity?

Posted on August 23, 2016 by nancsue

As a consequence of Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte’s misremembering, misrepresentation, or outright lying about being robbed at gunpoint after an Olympic party, some companies, including Speedo and Polo Ralph Lauren, among others, have dropped their sponsorship/endorsement deals with the Olympic … Continue reading →

Posted in Blessings, celebrities, entertainment, Fame, famous people, movies, pop culture, Psychology, Sports, Success/Failure | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

It’s Time to Escape SHAWSHANK – Quit Your Job & Find a New One

Posted on June 29, 2016 by nancsue

Each miserable day blends into the next.  The only changes are negative.  You think it might be time to change jobs.  But, it’s rough out there.  Times are hard, and your paycheck (such as it is), keeps coming.  And then … Continue reading →

Posted in Adulthood, Aging, celebrities, Depression, Employment, mid-centurians, pop culture, Success/Failure | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Dickens and Do-Overs

Posted on June 26, 2016 by nancsue

I can’t help wondering if perhaps Charles Dickens‘ inspiration for “A Christmas Carol” was not just looking back over his life. Was there just that moment when he wished that all he had lived through was but a dress rehearsal … Continue reading →

Posted in Adulthood, Authors, Christmas, Growing up, Literature, mid-centurians, movies, pop culture, Success/Failure | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

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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People Need Heroes – Raise the Bar

Posted on May 26, 2015 by nancsue

John Wayne (Marion Mitchell Morrison) was born this date in 1907.John Wayne, “The Duke” – ever the good guy, a hero. Or was he? Despite his numerous military movies, Wayne never actually served in any branch. He did, however, serve … Continue reading →

Posted in 1960s, Baby Boomers, celebrities, cultural history, entertainment, Fame, famous people, mid-centurions, movies, Nostalgia, pop culture, Sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Please tell me this is just a “Stupid Human Trick” – Not an ending

Posted on May 20, 2015 by nancsue

Here we go again – the end of (yet another) era, as David Letterman, the last of my generation of late night talk show hosts says goodnight for the final time in this role, time slot, capacity.  And I will … Continue reading →

Posted in Baby Boomers, celebrities, cultural history, entertainment, famous people, mid-centurions, news, pop culture, television | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

I Coulda Been Somebody! (But, really -what are the odds?)

Posted on November 23, 2014 by nancsue

Before I begin, let me confess. I am as guilty (perhaps more so) as the next person about believing I was “somebody” in a past life. My first thought was a conviction I must have been Van Gogh. My alternatives … Continue reading →

Posted in celebrities, cultural history, Growing up, Humor, pop culture | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Scary Movies – Nothing to Fear But Watching Alone

Posted on October 31, 2014 by nancsue

Which horror movies scared you the most? I was weaned on the horror flicks of the early 1960s (many of which were actually released in the late ’50s). By the time I was allowed to see them, it was after … Continue reading →

Posted in 1960s, entertainment, Growing up, Humor, movies, Nostalgia, pop culture | 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 →

Posted in americana, Baby Boomers, cultural history, Growing up, Humor, Nostalgia, pop culture, retro, technology | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Robin Williams: “No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world.”

Posted on August 11, 2014 by nancsue

Robin Williams. We first met him as Mork from Ork on the 1970s sitcom Happy Days.. The cute, little, long-haired alien was popular enough to get a spin-off series, Mork & Mindy,  co-starring Pam Dawber. With his zany, impulsive humor, Williams … Continue reading →

Posted in Addiction, alcoholism, celebrities, Depression, entertainment, Fame, pop culture, television | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

A Generation in Pursuit of the Perfect Flip

Posted on August 4, 2014 by nancsue

Ever since I was old enough to appreciate being a baby boomer, I pondered penning a piece about coming of age in that era, and titling it “In Pursuit of the Perfect Flip.” First, let me address the aforementioned “appreciation.” … Continue reading →

Posted in 1960s, Baby Boomers, celebrities, entertainment, Generation gap, Growing up, history, Humor, pop culture, television, women | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

One Cell Phone Picture Worth a Thousand Words – A Snapshot of Picture Perfect Technology

Posted on May 12, 2014 by nancsue

Before “blogging” was invented (or given a name, anyway), I would use my own website (Shameless Self Promotion Alert [SSPA]) Runwiththewolves.com as a creative outlet – sort of a replacement for the newspaper column I had written for seven years.  … Continue reading →

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