Information

[-Tracy-]

Where are my journaling girls at?? Y'all aren't giving up on me already are you? Sorry I'm late today-I wasn't feeling well yesterday so I had to do mine this morning.

If you're just joining us and would like to see all the prompts so far please see our Master Journaling List.

How the challenge works: You can jump in or out at any time. Feel free to use whatever format you like. Digi or paper, small or large whatever you're comfortable with. I will provide you with a prompt, but you can write about whatever you wish. If you have an idea for a prompt you'd like to see please let me know. Also, if your journaling is not large enough to read, please add it to your post so we can all read your story.

Today's Prompt: Fads! Please Google fads for your specific time frame (if you need a refresher) and then write about them. Ones you hated, or participated in or whatever you want to write about them. Have fun!

Here's my Example





I was cruising the internet, and came across a blast from my past. A whole website devoted to the culture of the 1980’s!!! I smiled knowingly at the movie references, laughed at the familiar catchphrases, and cringed at the awful fashion trends I was guilty of participating in. We were the MTV generation. Hanging out at the mall or arcades were our favorite past-times. We played Atari and Trivial Pursuit. Our jeans were by Jordache, shoes by Reebok, and hair by Aqua Net. Pennies went in your loafers, and tails were part of a hairstyle, not a tuxedo. We listened to Punk Rock, New Wave, Hair Bands, and Rap was just coming out. Madonna was like a virgin and Michael still had his original nose. We were all Born In The USA, got our Money For Nothing, and stayed Forever Young. The Brat Pack replaced the Rat Pack at the box office. We took a day off with Ferris Bueller and then spent detention with the Breakfast Club. There were 16 Candles on our cake and we needed 1.21 gigawatts to get Back To The Future. Stephen King scared our pants off in print and on the big screen. We were Moonlighting as detectives and prosecuted the criminals in Night Court. Yup, the 80’s were totally rad and it was awesome to re-visit them. I proudly still ‘scrunch’ my socks, and I’ll never give up my big bangs no matter what you say.


Now get cracking!!!! Don't make me break out The Leg.

[beachlover]

Tracy, I love your journaling! And I am still with you! I have my journaling all written down, just have not scrapped it; got caught up with the challenges at the end of the month, etc

[digi_scrapper]

Hi Tracy!

Great subject! I'm still with you too.

My first two writings were too "political" to post. ha I'm going to school full time, so I have to get my hw finished first, which is why I'm always late in posting. I will try my best to get caught up as soon as possible. Your challenge is not in vane, I promised!

[GRACEpunches5]

have fun today ladies!! i have homework to do.....don't these teachers know about Tracy's journaling challenges!!

[Ayla]

Got it done last night (no, it's not PSE...did the whole thing in Word...couldn't get the frame around the image to erase in PSE so I gave up on it and used it as is lol)....sorry for being slow yet again!








Dale (my oldest brother) is 18 years older than me. he was born in 1946, and I was born in 1964, making us the bookends of the Baby Boomer generation. We are the same generation, yet we grew up in such different worlds. A group of people at work were talking about this one night...about generations and the things we grow up with. I brought up the age difference between Dale and me, how we are the same generation, yet have such varying memories. One comment I made was that he served 2 tours with the Marine Corps in Vietnam, and I barely remember POW bracelets. I was asked what POW bracelets were, and as I thought about this "must have" item of my elementary school years, it really sunk in that I truly grew up in a different world than did Dale.

The POW/MIA Bracelet is a nickel-plated or copper bracelet engraved with the rank, name, and date a sodier was missing in action or became a prisoner of war. The idea for the bracelet was started by 2 college students as a way to remember American prisoners of war suffering in captivity in Southeast Asia. They were looking for ways college students could become involved in positive programs to support US soldiers without becoming embroiled in the controversy of the war itself. The idea is you wear the bracelet, praying for the soldier whose name is engraved upon it, until the soldier's return, or until his fate has been determined. While started as something for college students, the bracelets became widespread, and eventually over 5 million were made and distributed.

I remember wearing my bracelet. I clearly remember reading the listings in the newspaper of returning soldiers, looking for "my" soldier. I got bored with the whole project in a few short months. I deeply regret that I did not have the maturity to fully understand what that bracelet represented. Dale volunteered for the marine Corps...as I recall the story, if he was going to have to serve in the military, he wasn't going to be anything "less" than a Marine. He served 2 consecutive tours in Vietnam. The first was assigned to him, he volunteered for the second. He told me once that he didn't have a fmaily (meaning a wife or kids) at the time, so he figured maybe he could spare a husband or father from the risks that Vietnam held. I know little of his time there...like many vietnam era veterans, you don't ask him what happened. You merely listen when the rare tale of experiences is told. I am profoundly grateful he did return, because I then began the process (that has taken many years) of getting to know my brother.

I wish other families had been able to know more about their brothers, or fathers, or sons, and watch them mature as they lived their lives. I wish I had not merely seen the bracelet as "something that everyone was doing," and recognized the supreme sacrifice that many of these men had made. I wish I had honored the intent of that bracelet. Now, as the mother of a soldier, I hope the world recognizes the commitment he has made, and I pray his name never is engraved upon a bracelet like that. If it is, please, dear Lord, let my son be remembered.

[digi_scrapper]

Wow Nancy...
I too was born in '64. My family had those bracelets too and I remember them well. The year was 1970-71. I was in first grade.
Funny how we were too immature to keep up with it and yet it had such an impact on our lives. The whole country, including kids, seemed to be more involved in what our soldiers and their families were going through.

I appreciate your son and your brother!

[Ayla]

Wow Nancy...
I too was born in '64. My family had those bracelets too and I remember them well. The year was 1970-71. I was in first grade.
Funny how we were too immature to keep up with it and yet it had such an impact on our lives. The whole country, including kids, seemed to be more involved in what our soldiers and their families were going through.

I appreciate your son and your brother!

Thank you so much for your words. It's funny...these have been on my mind the past few weeks, and when Tracy put the "fad" challenge out, I knew exactly what I was going to write about. You are right...i didn't understand them, yet they sure affected my life! I now wear a yellow ribbon with Harper's Ferry crossed pistols on it on my name tag at work. The yellow for bringing our soldiers home, and the Harper's Ferry crossed pistols are the specific emblem for the Army's Military Police, of which my son is a member. I don't care if the "powers that be" at work object...I won't take it off!

[digi_scrapper]

Wow Nancy...
I too was born in '64. My family had those bracelets too and I remember them well. The year was 1970-71. I was in first grade.
Funny how we were too immature to keep up with it and yet it had such an impact on our lives. The whole country, including kids, seemed to be more involved in what our soldiers and their families were going through.

I appreciate your son and your brother!

Thank you so much for your words. It's funny...these have been on my mind the past few weeks, and when Tracy put the "fad" challenge out, I knew exactly what I was going to write about. You are right...i didn't understand them, yet they sure affected my life! I now wear a yellow ribbon with Harper's Ferry crossed pistols on it on my name tag at work. The yellow for bringing our soldiers home, and the Harper's Ferry crossed pistols are the specific emblem for the Army's Military Police, of which my son is a member. I don't care if the "powers that be" at work object...I won't take it off!

Nope! I wouldn't either. Good for you! My nephew is stationed at Ft. Hood. He just got back from Iraq a few months ago. Where is your son at?

[RitaS]

Ha ha - great jouranling! Tracy - you are so young!:-D
The bracelet immediatley took me back to middle school and MOOD RINGS!! I am going to have to google to see if I can find a photo to put on my journaling page. Other fads during that time were jumpsuits. I remember one of my GFs getting one, she was the "popular" one in the group. I wanted one so badly, too. Finally, one of my cows on the farm had a bul calf. I was thrilled because it meant he would be sold, and I would have money to buy a jumpsuit. (That's how we earned income growing up and working on the farm as a kid.) It was powder blue with white piping and a blue and white striped belt. I felt SO cool wearing it, with my Farah Fawcett feathered bangs. Donning my very cool mood ring I was hip and really with it - just like my friend Laurie.



Sad part is - there are no pics of me in that cool blue suit. Ah well!

[Ayla]

Nope! I wouldn't either. Good for you! My nephew is stationed at Ft. Hood. He just got back from Iraq a few months ago. Where is your son at?

He's in Korea...he's been there since January, and will probably get his next assignment sometime in the next month, anticipating he will move in January 2011. He is hoping for Germany. If he gets that one.....I'm packing my bags! (I would pack my bags for Korea, too, but I just didn't have the money this year and he's only there for 1 year.)