"Memory can change the shape of a room; it can change the color of a car."

We've been hunkering down, hermit-style this weekend.  We are in the eye of the celebration storm, and trying to enjoy having nothing particular to do.  RM promised the kids to take down some boxes from our loft to get out a couple of things for them.  In the process of doing this, both of us went through some boxes of keepsakes.  I found some strange things that I have no idea why I saved them. (a plastic TV Guide cover?  Seriously, what was I thinking.)  I did however find my photo box with my pictures going back to grade school.  I thought I'd share a little 20 year old gem with you.

Yep, that's a fourteen year old me.  Now, there's several things that make me chuckle about this school picture.  First, take a look at the sheer size of my glasses.  Throughout my childhood I didn't have many choices for glasses.  I've been wearing glasses since I was 2 years old.  Around the time of this picture I actually had some choices in glasses as my face was finally adult sized.  I'm guessing in 1988, big glasses were in.  Second, what is up with my hair.  Around 13 my hair started to go curly.  I remember thinking that short hair would control my curly hair.  Of course my hair style here is a  little Brigitte Nielsen.  Scary.  Oh and then there's the 80's style sweatshirt with the tank top underneath.  Oh yeah, I was stylin'!  There's nothing like seeing a picture of yourself in the awkward years that can bring on the laughter.

RM also found an unused leather wallet that belonged to his grandfather.  This wallet is in mint condition.  It's an interesting little wallet as there's places for keys, a really small credit card section compared to today's standards, and even a card to put all of your personal information, including Social Securty Card number.  We also found a sample photo in the billfold picture section of the wallet.  The picture cracked us up!  Look at this 50's era guy working it at the tennis court!  Interesting stuff, no?

So, have any of you come across fun/interesting things that you've saved over the years? Oh, and bonus question, does anyone know what movie this post's title comes from?

Comments

[mrspao]

My mum made me have that sort of perm so we probably looked very similar in the 80s.

[Betharoopie]

Oh, man - I feel your pain! I've worn glasses since age 8, and I have a very similar look in my middle school pictures. Except my mom made me get a perm. It was a little longer than yours, so I look a bit like Greg Brady. With big owl glasses. And I think I had some kind of fossil/rock necklace thing going on. I really knew how to work it!

Thanks for sharing!

Oh - and my only guess for the movie would be Memento, but I'm pretty sure that's not right...

[Elysbeth]

I agree- Memento.

I loved that 80s look with the tank and the sweatshirt. So comfortable!

[thursday]

Oh, Memento sounds right to me. I can even hear the voice saying it. I love movies about memory, though - isn't it amazing what we change in our minds?

You should see my pics from 1989! I have crimped hair and "don't worry, be happy" earrings. And a t-shirt that says "shop til you drop" - don't ask why I thought that was appropriate for picture day!

[trek]

My glasses in 1988 were just about as big as yours...just the way things were back then...

[Nonnahs]

I love seeing old pictures- especially from the 80s! You are a brave woman! ;) Maybe I'll dig one out, too...maaaaybe... ;)

[Margaret]

rotf

[Laura]

okay you have me beat in the glasses wearing--I started wearing them when I was 5 or 6, I've never known anyone else that started wearing them at a younger age than I did.

I think everyone had big glasses back then. I'll have to find some old photos of me (that I'm willing to share!)

[Chris]

*has terrible flashback to huge glasses with plastic frames*

[Kim]

Oh, I had some huge light-almost-transparent pink glasses. I think, even then, in the backs of our minds, we wondered what in the world we were thinking. . .

[lisa]

Hi Jennifer! Thanks for the comment over on my blog. I've got you in bloglines, so I'll come back again... I had those glasses, in RED, like Sally Jesse... but I didn't have any excuse of being only 14, I was more like 27. Mostly I totally ignored any 'fashion' of the 80's, so I missed the sweatshirt/tank top thing. No idea what movie. Over the weekend, I sorted/cleaned the barn loft (intending to send stuff to a benefit yard sale) and found stuff that came from a friend that died... I'd set aside to save some photos I'd sent him that he treasured, and amongst that stuff was the last birthday card I sent him and the first couple pages of what looks like a novel. Had to close that box up to look at later.

[Karen]

I'm so glad I'm not the only one posting photos of their younger selves. :) Glad to know it wasn't just me with the big ol' glasses.

[Debby]

Just last year I finally got rid of my big ol' wire rims, that I've had since college. I only wore them from bed to bath and vice versa as I hate glasses generally. The new ones are more fashionable, but the peripheral vision part stinks.

We had some great fashions in the 80s, didn't we?! I didn't save much of them, but I have my clear Lucite hoop earrings from the Limited in case that comes back! :)

[Carrie K]

Big glasses were definitely in back in 1988. I just ran across my old pairs. You look so cute!

Momento? Y'know, I still have never seen that movie. Bad me.

[olga]

I was gonna guess the enternal sunshine of a spotless mind- but- I forgot.

[Sydney]

I had some glasses similar to those in the 80s, with big clear pinkish frames. I think I still have them somewhere. I also decided I needed a perm even though I have naturally wavy hair. Sometimes cleaning up can be like an archaeological expedition. :)