Twenty years ago today in the suburbs of Albany, NY, wearing a white frilly dress purchased from the store where one must purchase such things in Brooklyn, NY, I sang in public for the last time. As it was quite literally on the occasion of an honest-to-god rite of passage, nobody fell sick as a result.
Per tradition in the Northeast USA, my parents threw me a huge party at a hotel on the occasion of my Bat Mitzvah, with catered chicken fingers for all the kids. I had a perm and was infatuated with a boy in my Hebrew-school class. I led the conga line. There is video evidence.
At this point in my life I have very consciously and actively eschewed everything about the events of that day, but I’m going to focus on the positives. Of spending a day with my whole extended family, of obsessing over that boy.
I had a long post written about religion and judgment and expectation and friends and family, but sometimes cutting 600 words is the best thing to do.
Searching our dusty albums basement archives hasn’t turned up a photo of me on that day, so instead why don’t you post a photo of or comment about yourself from twenty years ago? A day of reminiscence is in order!
A picture of me on my 5th birthday with my brand new banana seat bicycle. Banana seat bicycles were a rite-of-passage in the 80s right? Sure they were.
20 years ago this month, I was at my first job out of college Jr. Art Director at Southern Living's Marketing Department. After 4 years of learning graphic design using rapidiographs, vellum, type galleys and a drafting board, they put a mac computer in front of me and told me to learn how to use it instead.
I would so love to read your thoughts on “religion and judgment and expectation and friends and family”. Also, would love to see you with a perm. Cute!
Here's me more like 22 years ago: http://www.flickr.com/photos/17261684@N00/35290... nice 80s outfit, hair, and dig the nylons (with sandals, but you can't see those in the pic). I think I'm wearing a Swatch, too.
Yes, they sure were. I had one before we moved. It was purple, and I'd ride the streets (or, more specifically, my one block) of Brooklyn pretending it was a horse. I'm sure it had a name, and I'm sure that name came directly from Little House on the Prairie.
A Swatch! I wore one in the mid-80s. It had a white band. Not a good idea for a kid, really.
Maren on May 13, 2009 at 7:13 pm
Well, I see that someone has already said what I was going to — I'd love to hear your thoughts about religion, expectation, etc.! Weren't you the one that said bloggers should write about other things, not just crochet…. I know you already do, but seriously, I would like to read the 600 words you cut.
And I, too would love to hear your thoughts about religion and family and whatnot, but do agree that sometimes, erasing big chunks of text is something you just gotta do.
KathyElkins on May 15, 2009 at 10:14 am
20 years ago on 5/13 I was 4 days shy of my 23rd b'day, living at home,engaged to a boy (that didn't work out so well) and just a few months away from leaving a boring marketing job at a bank (marketing home equity loans and mortgages is not very much fun) and taking a job at a local beer distributor where I would meet Steve. Hmm – thanks for making me stop and think back. In hindsight is was a pretty pivotal time for me.
Maybe we should try a conga line at Yarn Group. . . . . . .
20 years ago, I was 9 and got my first pair of eyeglasses. Of course, they were gigantic but only somewhat traumatizing.
nell on May 19, 2009 at 1:06 pm
how timely. i hadn't thought about it, but thinking back to the spring before i turned 8 (that'd be twenty years ago) i realize that's when i met my best friend. her family had moved in across the street from us in april or may of '89. i will have to send her a twentieth anniversary card. ;)
nell on May 19, 2009 at 8:06 pm
how timely. i hadn't thought about it, but thinking back to the spring before i turned 8 (that'd be twenty years ago) i realize that's when i met my best friend. her family had moved in across the street from us in april or may of '89. i will have to send her a twentieth anniversary card. ;)
I'm an astigmatic expat writer, editor, speaker, author of crochet books, blogger, crafter and founder of the Mighty Ugly project.
I love talking people into indulging their creativity and I sometimes help authors and crafters promote their work online and have fun while they do it. I write here about creative business, crafts, books, pop culture and generally about ideas that force their way out of my brain. Wanna talk about stuff? Don't hold back.
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I'm an astigmatic expat writer, editor, speaker, author of 
<img src=”http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2220/3528727810_2f9c26a0d0_m.jpg” width=”228″ height=”240″ alt=”new bike” />
A picture of me on my 5th birthday with my brand new banana seat bicycle. Banana seat bicycles were a rite-of-passage in the 80s right? Sure they were.
20 years ago this month, I was at my first job out of college Jr. Art Director at Southern Living's Marketing Department. After 4 years of learning graphic design using rapidiographs, vellum, type galleys and a drafting board, they put a mac computer in front of me and told me to learn how to use it instead.
I am totally raiding my mom's photo albums when I go home, so I will post my own Bat Mitzvah pictures when I get back to my scanner.
Because, you know. They are HILARIOUS.
Here I am about 20 years ago graduating from high school – http://www.flickr.com/photos/carolbrowne/166424...
Good times. Make that 21 years ago. YIKERS.
I would so love to read your thoughts on “religion and judgment and expectation and friends and family”. Also, would love to see you with a perm. Cute!
Hey! 20 years ago was like YESTERDAY! How 'bout 50 years ago at the original Disneyland? Me and my brother riding on the Junior Autopia!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellblo/3529040368/
Check out Natalie's blogpost today. She's looking for prom photos from the past:
http://woolanthropy.blogspot.com/2009/05/prom-n...
Happy vintage photo day to all fiberistas!
Here's me more like 22 years ago: http://www.flickr.com/photos/17261684@N00/35290... nice 80s outfit, hair, and dig the nylons (with sandals, but you can't see those in the pic). I think I'm wearing a Swatch, too.
Yes, they sure were. I had one before we moved. It was purple, and I'd ride
the streets (or, more specifically, my one block) of Brooklyn pretending it
was a horse. I'm sure it had a name, and I'm sure that name came directly
from Little House on the Prairie.
2009/5/13 Disqus <>
Awesome photo! I'll definitely write about all that stuff at some point. And
I'll see if I can dig up a photo.
A Swatch! I wore one in the mid-80s. It had a white band. Not a good idea
for a kid, really.
Well, I see that someone has already said what I was going to — I'd love to hear your thoughts about religion, expectation, etc.! Weren't you the one that said bloggers should write about other things, not just crochet…. I know you already do, but seriously, I would like to read the 600 words you cut.
Noted! I'll work on hashing it out.
I think this conga line video evidence must be unearthed!
Here's me, roundabout 20 years ago, with my little brother in my grandparents backyard in Georgia. Note we were so cool we were both wearing Jams.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/craftivista/276466...
And I, too would love to hear your thoughts about religion and family and whatnot, but do agree that sometimes, erasing big chunks of text is something you just gotta do.
20 years ago on 5/13 I was 4 days shy of my 23rd b'day, living at home,engaged to a boy (that didn't work out so well) and just a few months away from leaving a boring marketing job at a bank (marketing home equity loans and mortgages is not very much fun) and taking a job at a local beer distributor where I would meet Steve. Hmm – thanks for making me stop and think back. In hindsight is was a pretty pivotal time for me.
Maybe we should try a conga line at Yarn Group. . . . . . .
20 years ago, I was 9 and got my first pair of eyeglasses. Of course, they were gigantic but only somewhat traumatizing.
how timely. i hadn't thought about it, but thinking back to the spring before i turned 8 (that'd be twenty years ago) i realize that's when i met my best friend. her family had moved in across the street from us in april or may of '89. i will have to send her a twentieth anniversary card. ;)
how timely. i hadn't thought about it, but thinking back to the spring before i turned 8 (that'd be twenty years ago) i realize that's when i met my best friend. her family had moved in across the street from us in april or may of '89. i will have to send her a twentieth anniversary card. ;)