Goofy Nostalgia - Why do we cling so?

[Mo_Gearhead]

Spring cleaning of my garage and I find this beer ...circa 1971!



The story: In September of 1971 I was discharged from Camp Pendleton in California. I had my 1970 Chevelle loaded and I drove out the gate and pointed it toward Las Vegas. Words cannot describe the elation of being ‘free’ (military service ended). I had the radio blaring and I was one happy SOB! So, at some point, I stopped and purchased a six-pack of Bud. Yes, I drank a couple during the drive (gasp!) to Vegas, got a room in a cheap motel and spent the night …during which I drank the rest, save this one. Nothing pre-planned …just five turned out to be the correct number for that particular day/evening.

This ‘survivor beer’ was tossed into a cardboard box in the trunk of that Chevelle the next morning, as I headed out to Colorado. It spent the next five years in the trunk, in that box with a pair of jumper cables, some gloves, road flares and a few hand tools. Through five HOT Midwest summers and four COLD winters, it remained there.

I sold the Chevelle in 1976 and when cleaning it out, found that beer. I knew it was worthless, but for some reason, I placed it on a shelf in my garage. Through three subsequent moves, I never could find the heart to toss it. It reminded me of that glorious day of ‘freedom‘. Thus, it has always sat on a shelf, somewhere in my garage …for 38 years. I found it again this past weekend.

Which brings me to item number two:



This is a tube of Chap Stick. I can’t even recall how I came to have it. Probably in a ‘kit’ of articles we were given, either issued by the Corps or in a USO packet in Okinawa, on our way to S.E. Asia?

I carried this tube of lip balm for my entire tour in Nam. It was originally a black tube with a white cap. As you can see, the paint wore away and now it is little more than a shiny tube. Still useable. Just another goofy item I tossed into a drawer and that has moved with me, ever since.

I still have my camo. bush-hat, dog tags and similar items from that era of my life ...but for some reason these two, silly items ...I just can’t find the heart to discard.

So how about you? Any others want to confess to your nostalgic goofiness?

Picture required!

[targa911S]

I have over 300 shaving brushes.

[m21sniper]

I still have my army fatigues as well, but no chap stick.

LOL

[herr_oberst]

I have a can of spam with the printed metal label, not the plastic wrapped label.

[Tishabet]

The goofy nostalgia factor goes off the charts in my t-shirt drawer... I have some in there that are almost 30 years old. I just can't bear to get rid of them

[craigster59]

Here's another shirt from '83, when sleevless T's were hip....

[craigster59]

And some old bongos my Father in Law picked up during his Beatnik cruise thru Mexico in the '50's

[trekkor]

I have my 4 wisdom teeth from 1988 or so in a little bag.


KT

[Hugh R]

I through out a 30 y/o metal can of Marvel Mystery oil (empty) and went to the store to get another and found they come in a plastic container now. I went home and fished it out of the trash and put it on my work bench, along with an unopened, empty can of Budweiser.

[Zeke]

You think you've got goofy nostalgia?




In the next room are the antique tools and hardware. In the next room......

[flatbutt]

I WISH I could give you a pic but my dogtags disappeared a couple years ago. Very sad too.

IMO we cling to certain items that give us a tangible connection to significant events in our lives. Case and point, I mourned the loss of those dogtags but not my wedding ring!

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by Tishabet

The goofy nostalgia factor goes off the charts in my t-shirt drawer... I have some in there that are almost 30 years old. I just can't bear to get rid of them

Would you believe...1971 Porsche Parade T shirt here? Yep.

[Christien]

Originally Posted by craigster59

Here's another shirt from '83, when sleevless T's were hip....

Holy crap! That would've been an awesome festival!!! I love how U2 is in small print, it being only 1983!

My rule has always been one 2-sq-ft box - if it fits in there, I'll keep it. If not, forget it. The only old clothing I keep is concert T-shirts. I've got all sorts of old crap in there, all of it with memories attached. I don't really see anything goofy about that. Now Milt's room, on the other hand...

[Tishabet]

Hey Milt, I spy a meerschaum in there... I own several of those myself

[Rot 911]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

I WISH I could give you a pic but my dogtags disappeared a couple years ago. Very sad too.
IMO we cling to certain items that give us a tangible connection to significant events in our lives. Case and point, I mourned the loss of those dogtags but not my wedding ring!

Mine from 1973:

[Heel n Toe]

Originally Posted by Hugh R

....an unopened, empty can of Budweiser.

Say whut?



Unopened, but empty?

[looneybin]

Originally Posted by craigster59

Here's another shirt from '83, when sleevless T's were hip....

I was at the US festival in '83
it was a blast, except there was no grass (turf) there was plenty of weed
& it was hot as hell

[craigster59]

I was there for all 3 days and was completley fried by Sunday. It was dirt, dust and heat. A great time but couldn't do it again. It makes Coachella look like a Miley Cyrus concert.

[GH85Carrera]

I still have my original Microsoft mouse. It has two huge green buttons a steel roller ball and it is "patent pending" I got it in the early 80s with Ventura Publisher V1.

[vash]

i have an early can of quaker state motor oil. the kind you had to jab a pour spout into.