We are visiting my childhood home today – St. Simons Island, Georgia, on the 8-year anniversary of my mother’s death from Parkinson’s Disease. Although the family house where we grew up has long since been leveled and rebuilt, so much of the 1970s decade is still ever present here on the island.
When I was young here, the Tastee-Freez was the place we’d go on our bicycles to get ice cream and hot dogs. It has since been a Dairy Queen and now a Frosty’s, but the original poster is still hanging by the door.
I also love my brother’s dishes, which were our family dishes in the 1970s. This morning, I used a smaller coffee cup and a saucer than I would normally use, just to eat from these dishes. The retro vibe is strong on the olive green pattern.
It’s a welcome feeling to walk back through the decades. As we go through years of memorabilia with our dad, my brother and I are reliving memories and sharing the stories. Even though the annual “family meeting” is sometimes uncomfortable with the details of how families move forward after losing a loved one, it’s also filled with plenty of time around the table, enjoying great food and laughing.
As we move into a new year, laughter is a word that I’ve considered as my One Little Word for 2024. It’s surely something that improves my whole outlook!
We’re missing Mom today, but we know she is close. As my brother and I were driving this morning, a hawk flew directly over us – – a sure signal that all is well in Heaven.
Common Threads 
Kim – as a fellow child of the 70’s I know the songs and that cup and saucer pattern! I have been to St. Simon’s many times. What a wonderful place to grow up! Thank you for this uplifting post and I like “laughter” as a OLW. We certainly need more of it!
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This thrills my soul to know that one of my writing friends has been to St. Simons and loves it – and knows the 70s decade so well also. Those tiny bathroom tiles and wall heaters are still there in my brother’s house that was built in the 50s and that he bought about two years ago. Time has stood still down there in many ways. Much has changed, and much remains the same for those of us who carry the memories across the years. Thanks for reading.
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