My nostalgic yearning for life as it was in the 1980s continues for a number of reasons. Sad news of the passing of a childhood friend, an upcoming family visit to my hometown and the longing for simpler, more authentic experiences have me pining for my happy days growing up in the small, friendly community of Spotswood, NJ.
Last year I wrote a two part series on the popular Netflix series Stranger Things and the Dungeons & Dragon phenomena and today I am excited to share with you the latest update on Stranger Things season 3.
This quirky teaser trailer for season 3 had me LMAO and vividly remembering my first job at the Brunswick Square Mall in 1983.
I visited the shopping mall the other day and it just didn’t have the same positive vibe that I remember growing up.
Photo by Michael Galinsky
It looks like we will have to wait a bit longer to get our next 1985 fix since season 3 of Stranger Things isn’t scheduled to release until mid 2019.
The other thing I loved about the 1980s was the music. Everyday I listen to SiriusXM radio on my drive to work and I always end up on the 70s, 80s or Classic Vinyl/Rewind channels. Hair Nation is also a favorite channel with its compilation of arena rock concert music.
Images of black and white band jerseys come flooding back every time I hear a song from Genesis, Peter Gabriel, Rush, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel or Lynryd Skynryd.
I also enjoyed Casey Kasem and the weekly Top 40 countdown so I thought I’d share with you my own list of memories from the decade of big hair and great movies.
The Top 40 List (in no particular order) of the things I miss most about the awesome 80s:
- Hanging out with friends and listening to records or cassette tapes for hours on end.
- Playing Asteroids, Space Invaders and Pac Man at the video arcade.
- Waking my Dad up bright and early on my 17thbirthday so he could drive me to the DMV in Rahway, NJ. He let me drive his 1972 Chevy Chevelle to take my driving test to get my license.
- Listening to Pink Floyd’s The Wall on my Sony Walkman.
- Back to school shopping and getting a shiny, new Trapper Keeper note book.
- Paradoxes in clothing trends: Black parachute pants. White Painters pants, Overalls. Day glow colored spandex. Peach colored anything.
- Quality movies like Back the Future, Ghostbusters, E.T. and The Terminator.The list is endless.
- Hanging out at Brunswick Square Mall and my first job at York Steak House.
- Getting a slice at Taverna Pizza parlor for lunch during senior year at Spotswood High School.
- High quality teachers like Mr. Muschla, Mr Dziedziak and Mr. Perosa.
- Great coaches who inspired and motivated: Jean Lonergan Puff and Bruce Nissenbaum.
- Playing in large piles of leaves in the front yard.
- Watching or marching in the annual Memorial Day parade.
- Eating a Carvel banana barge with nuts after eating pizza.
- Making cassette tape mixes by recording them from vinyl albums or the radio.
- Listening to classic rock on FM radio WPLJ.
- Being able to go over to someone’s house unannounced and just knock on the door and ask if they want to come out and play.
- Climbing trees and occasionally having someone break an arm.
- Building forts in the woods.
- Playing in the “dirt piles” behind my house.
- Sitting around an open fire in the woods.
- Going to Devoe Lake and sitting by the small waterfall on the Immaculate Conception church side overlooking the American Legion post.
- Watching Fourth of July fireworks over Devoe Lake from the church parking lot.
- Play acting and performing skits with my friends on Maiden Lane and Bruning Lane.
- Riding our bikes to places my parents didn’t know about.
- Exploration and the sense of wonder at discovering new and buried things.
- Playing kick ball in the street until it was dark.
- Riding my bike and unicycle to school without a helmet (it’s amazing I survived).
- Watching my friends play D&D.
- High School Marching Band and Color Guard pride.
- Swing sets and dodge ball at recess after lunch at Appleby school.
- Walking home from school on the railroad tracks.
- Playing video games at the Sorrentos pizza parlor on Main St and Devoe Ave.
- Jumping off home made, wooden ramps with our bikes.
- Storytelling at sleepover parties.
- High school yearbooks with hand drawn artwork on the covers.
- Using a shiny, new Apple II in high school computer class and learning BASIC.
- Fun and festive carnivals behind the Catholic church.
- Fishing in down at the outlets and rivers.
- Going to the Movie City Five theater and it costing $1.50 to see a movie.
Strong Words & Simple Truths 