How many of you were around for the very first Earth Day, in 1970? I was in high school then, and there was much excitement at my high school surrounding the event. We were all encouraged to think of ways we could change our usual routines to call attention to the need to protect our home planet.
My boyfriend and I decided we would save fossil fuel by not carpooling to school. Instead, we decided to ROLLERSKATE the two miles to school. Now, this was long before Rollerblades or other smooth-rolling skates. I found this photo of what our skates looked like on Etsy. They fit right over our shoes, with no need for skate keys (like the skates I used as a child). I wonder if Mom still has any of our skates? No doubt they are classified as antiques today.
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However you decide to celebrate Earth Day this year, have fun!
I was in HS too and I do remember the first day, everyone in school celebrated it and so it was fun!! I remember my baby brother was in 6th. grade and the kids even planted a tree..how fun it was!! Have a terrific week, Tricia.
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Oh, I forgot!! Today is my kid's brother's b'day too...oh my goodness! He is 52!!!!!!!
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OMG Tricia! My knees, ankles and legs hurt just thinking about using those skates and the concrete sidewalks LOL! Thanks (I think!) for bringing back the memories :-)
ReplyDeleteI do remember the first Earth Day, but I cannot remember if I made an effort to honor it. April 22nd was my mother's birthday, so I was usually doing something for or with her. I do remember those skates - I never skated to school, but my school was very close to my house (no walking three miles to school for me - lol!!) and we took went there to skate, because there were many flat spaces, which made skating a lot easier. Thanks for helping me think of these great memories, Tricia!!
ReplyDeleteI don't remember the first Earth Day. I was a busy mother with a three year old and an infant trying to deal with the shock of the weather in Cleveland, OH. You and your bf certainly get points for creativity in how you decided to save the planet in your school commute. Young children now might not even recognize those artifacts as skates at all!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, I really love this. I can't imagine roller skating to school but just the thought of it makes me smile. I remember my first Earth Day too. I wasn't in high school yet, but I grew up in an area that was in the forefront of what we called the ecology movement back then.
ReplyDeleteWe used to ride our bikes to school. We called it ecological but really and truly it was just fun.
OMG- I had the same pair!! I love them (but hated the skinned knees from falling in the street!) What a great memory!
ReplyDeleteMan, Richard was a good sport! I can't imagine you making it down our street without killing yourself - that was an enormous hill, all by itself. Of course, you were a lot younger then, but wow. And I don't remember a whole lot of sidewalks between our house and the high school. I wish I still had those skates!
ReplyDeleteBoy do I remember the first Earth Day. It was a first date for my husband an me.
ReplyDeleteI am going to my parents' house this summer (now owned by my sister) to look for some treasures and I bet my skates are in the garage. We had the only concrete driveway in the neighborhood- and it had a slope.
Oh to be young and able to skate 2 miles to school! Such a cute story, Tricia. I grew up and still live in the completely flat part of Ark. Years ago, we lived in L.R. for a few years. I had a toddler at the time. I was accustomed to putting her in a child seat on the back of my bike and riding in the early evening for exercise. The first time I did it in L.R., I almost didn't make it back home. Flying down the hill was fun, but I wasn't thinking about having to go up the hill to get back home! laurie
ReplyDeleteWhat a cute story....I remember roller skating a lot in 1970. I wished I kept those skates. Thank you Tricia for your sweet words and prayers. xo Linda
ReplyDeleteWe had those same skates at our house. A few pair, but only one key, and the neighbours down the road had the same situation -- from time to time, one of us would misplace that one key and borrowing was the only solution if we wanted to get to the pool (4 blocks away, including a significant hill that we would whizz down, across a fairly busy street -- what was my mother thinking? besides the obvious wanting to get us out of the house!) or the library (6 or 7 blocks) in style (ha!), Thanks for the reminder. . . . have you been hearing an internal soundtrack of Melanie's song? (I've Got a Brand New Pair of Roller Skates, You've Got a Brand New Key) , . .
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