In 1984

May 15, 2012 | My Jottings

In 1984, the Apple Macintosh computer was introduced.

In 1984, the Space Shuttle Challenger flew three Space Shuttle missions.

Also that year, Ronald Reagan was re-elected to his second term as President of the United States, defeating Walter Mondale.

Geraldine Ferraro was the first female candidate for the Vice-Presidency.

A gallon of gas cost around $1.21.

“Jump” by Van Halen and “Say Say Say” by Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson were hits that year.

Erma Bombeck’s Motherhood: The Second Oldest Profession was on the New York Times Bestseller List.

In 1984, Jordache jeans, legwarmers, and shoulder pads were the fashion trends. I wasn’t into legwarmers, but I sure liked shoulder pads. I was under the impression that they would make me look slimmer. You know, sort of like those slim linebackers that play for the NFL.

In the year 1984, the PG-13 rating was begun, to cover the middle ground between movies that were rated PG and R.

The Summer Olympics were held in Los Angeles that year.

“The Cosby Show” premiered on television.

In 1984, Michael and I bought our first house for $27,000. It was almost uninhabitable and I cried on the day we moved in, because I had no vision for what it could be. Michael was a builder who looked at the house and saw good bones and great potential. By the time he was finished with it I loved our home and never wanted to leave.

And in 1984, our family had our picture taken for our church directory.

Sara, Michael, Sharon, Carolyn and me. We were 2, 35, 7, 5 and almost 27.

As we clean out closets and weed things out of armoires, I keep finding old pictures and doodads from long ago.

Do you remember what was happening in your life in 1984?

Comments

  1. Ember says:

    In 1984 I had 4 children under four. I had very little sleep and a lot of washing.

  2. Just Julie says:

    …and a lot of cooking and a lot of reading aloud and a lot of refereeing and a lot of picking up and a lot of wiping tears…. And look at them now, plus one more. Your stellar young women, Ember.

  3. Linda says:

    That was the year I met you. I remember Sara was 2 and was a little sweetie. I was a reporter at the time and Bob and I were dating.

  4. Just Julie says:

    Linda! You’re up and about and online! I’ve been wondering when to call you but hesitated thinking you were in bed recuperating. Now I will call. Thank you for visiting my blog and commenting. We have known each other a long time now, and how thankful I am for that! xxoo

  5. Pat says:

    That picture is so darling of all of you. Carolyn’s picture looks identical to one of her daughter (sorry I can’t remember her name). Where does the time go? It seems like yesterday it was 1984. Loved your facts of that time.

  6. Just Julie says:

    I think Carolyn and Vivienne look a lot a like – that might be the daughter you’re thinking of, Pat. What were you doing in 1984? 🙂

  7. Julie says:

    I was in my third year of nursing school. I was 21 years old and deciding I wasn’t sure I liked the direction my life was headed. Some of it I just had to go with. I had accepted an ROTC scholarship and would be commissioned as a nurse in the US Army in about a year, like it or not. I was struggling to pass my Army Physical Fitness Test. I think I had to do the 2-mile run in less than 18 minutes and 54 seconds. Having decided I couldn’t fix his addiction, I dropped my boyfriend of several years. I felt disconnected, dissatisfied and directionless. I was beginning to be more deliberate about my life… but I didn’t get good at it for a long, long time.

  8. Just Julie says:

    Hi Julie! You have a great memory I see. Did you pass the fitness test and continue on with Army nursing? I don’t know many 20-somethings who are very deliberate with their lives – it sounds like you were paying attention early on. Good for you! Blessings on your week Julie….

  9. Julie says:

    Oh, I always passed, sometimes it took me two or three tries. I stayed in the Army for 13-years. I got out to peruse motherhood as a single woman.

  10. Just Julie says:

    It sounds like you have the gift of perseverance, Julie! And I know from your blog that God has/is using that in you as a mom…. xxoo

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