In 1974, I was 7 years old and growing up in Wisconsin. I had no idea that far, far away in Boone County, Kentucky, their first and only library had just opened! Little me would’ve said “Doesn’t every town already have a library?” Then I would have hopped on my bicycle and ridden off alone to my own neighborhood library. (It was 1974 – we got away with a lot!).

Before riding my bike, I tightened the bottom of my pant leg with a clothespin (Dad’s rule!) as it was the era of bell bottoms, and they did not play nice with bicycle chains. My bicycle was red, white and blue with the curvy handlebars and a banana seat. My favorite bell bottoms were purple with butterflies and daisies, hand made by my aunt and worn at every opportunity. (When I finally outgrew them, it was the biggest tragedy of my young life!) The 1974 me had it all: the cool bicycle, the groovy pants, the nerdy clothespin and the freedom to ride most anywhere.

But when I came back home it was time to play with some great toys of the 70’s. I had a Baby Alive doll, Colorforms, Tinker Toys, and Playschool’s toy house and barn. I loved my new Ballerina Barbie and my old Barbies with handmade clothes. I would pull out my Lincoln Logs to build them a cabin and pretend they were pioneers like Laura Ingalls from my favorite books. Play dough was fun, and Silly Putty was great to use with the Sunday comics. My Richard Scarry neighborhood set could keep my occupied for hours.

I had technology in 1974. There was a See ‘N Say with a cord to pull, and my toy record player to spin Sesame Street, Electric Company and Mr. Rogers 45 records. We had a bright orange party-line wall phone and a black and white tv. My favorite shows were The Brady Bunch, The Waltons, Partridge Family and Sonny and Cher. Nobody could stay up late watching TV because all the channels (maybe 3 total?) would play the national anthem then turn to fuzz for the night.

My favorite food in 1974 was TV dinners – fun, foil, and their cute little separate compartments with even my very own dessert. My favorite snack was Jiffy Pop popcorn in foil that expanded on the stovetop, but I would settle for a Tootsie Pop and count the licks to the center. A nice cold Tang to wash it down was perfect, because that’s what the astronauts drank, but Kool-Aid or Hawaiian Punch were great too. The only soda in the house was Mom’s diet Tab and Fresca.

So that was my life in 1974, and I feel lucky to have lived it – and even luckier to remember.