Colorado Photography of the American West

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22 June 2009

Birthday Challenge









Today is my birthday and I felt that it was time to come clean. I am skating on thin ice, getting long in the tooth, going around the bend! But I don't feel old. In fact, I feel exactly like the same person I have always been, albeit a bit wiser. I still like to run through the woods, roll on the floor with the dogs, and eat an occasional hot dog. I still push the limits, enjoy an adventure, or play the fool. Sky diving is on my bucket list along with many other firsts. So much left to do! So what's the big deal? Why do we resent aging so much? In fact, I love my age. I'm smart enough to have learned from my mistakes and lucky enough to have survived them. So in celebration of my birthday I'd like to give away one of my prints and challenge you to fess up. How many of these do you remember? I double dog dare you!



Candy cigarettes
Wax coke-shaped bottles with colored sugar water inside
Soda pop machines that dispensed glass bottles
Hoola hoop contests
Coffee shops with tableside juke boxes
Blackjack, Clove and Teaberry chewing gum
Home milk delivery in glass bottles, with cardboard stoppers
Party lines
Newsreels before the movie
Telephone numbers with a word prefix .... (Drexel-5505
Howdy Doody
45 RPM Records
Green Stamps
Hi-fi's
Metal ice cube trays with levers
Mimeograph paper
Blue flash bulbs
Beanie and Cecil
Cork pop guns
Drive ins
Studebakers
Wash Tub wringers
The Fuller Brush man
Reel-to-reel tape recorders
The "twist", "mashed potatoes", and "funky-chicken"
Tinkertoys
The Erector Set
Lincoln Logs
15 cent McDonald hamburgers & 10 cent fries
5 cent packs of baseball cards..... with that slab of pink bubblegum
penny candy
35 cent-a-gallon gasoline
When the first man walked on the moon
When Elvis Presley first appeared on the Ed Sullivan show
When the Beatles arrived
When the Barbie doll hit the scene


To celebrate the day I am giving away any 8x10 or smaller print from my Etsy shop. Here is how to enter:

Leave a comment on this blog with the following information:
  • Go to my Etsy shop and select your favorite print by title, the one you will win!
  • What is my age? The clues are all here in this post. Must be correct in order to win.
  • Fess up! Tell me something you remember. Feel free to add to this list too.
  • Leave a way to contact you.
Each comment will be assigned a number and the winner will be selected by a random number generator. Entry deadline is midnight Colorado mountain time on June 24, 2009. Winner to be announced on June 25, 2009.

27 comments:

  1. Happy Birthday to you! Know wonder I like you so much, I am a moon child too!

    Julie I remember a lot of the things listed but not all of the. I loved Blackjack gum and miss drive in theaters.

    I am tempted to go back and look at your tat photo but will just try to use your clues...but Studebacker!

    So, I will say 55? If I aged you please forgive me!!! : )

    I Love La Loma Gate very much!

    I hope you have a beautiful day!

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  2. Gypsy, Thanks for your entry!

    Hey Everyone! You don't have to guess my age. It is right here in plain view on today's post. Look carefully.

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  3. I'm going to say 56 only from the clues, but gosh, Julie! If I went by your photo, I'd say 36! I don't remember blackjack gum, but most everything else. One of my favorite candies when I was a kid was button candy and a favorite game (although I never had it and loved playing it at a friend's house) was Mystery Date! It's hard to pick a favorite--there are many--but I'll go with Orchid Shadow!

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  4. LOL I remember all of these thing and they brought back some great memories! I tweeted you girl!:) Happy Birthday! I hope it's the best ever!
    Big Hugs, Mem

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  5. Oh I forgot to play the game:) I love Natures Bliss and I hate to guess your age because you look extremely young but if you remember all of this like I remember it then I would think you would have to be about 54 and I am only guessing this by things you listed. You look like you are in your 30's.
    I remember the "Walking Dolls" You moved their arms and they walked:)

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  6. Shuck, I won't be able to guess your age. Although I remember a few things on the list, I grew up outside the US. I do remember having a b/w TV at my parents, and then I peek over to the neighbor's to watch their colored version of "Family Affair". I was living on the 15th floor in Hong Kong.

    What a great way to celebrate your birthday, and I love your healthy attitude. My favorite of your photos is Golden Bliss. It's just so calming and cozy comfortable. Have a super day!

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  7. Happy Birthday!!! I hope your day is fabulous!!

    Let's see ... I'm guessing that you were born in 1951 ... which makes you ... very young! :)

    Oh my gosh ... I can remember almost all of those things. The only one I don't remember are the news reels before a movie. Here's another one ... remember those color plastic sheets to put over a black and white television screen creating instant "color" tv? lol!

    All of your prints are fabulous! I especially like "Columbine in Blue". But I have to say that each print is a place I'd like to be.

    Have a wonderful day!!

    Small Footprints
    reducefootprints@gmail.com

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  8. Happy Birthday kiddo! I totally agree about the age thing. I am proud to have lived this long. Glad you have such a wonderful perspective.

    You are 58....6 1/2 years older than me! That is why there are a few things on your list I don't remember. It was fun to hunt for your clue:)

    Love the Evening Fog image!

    Have an amazing day. Let your friends and family pamper you!

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  9. I agree with Cat. I think you were 57 and are now 58! I love Golden Bliss. I just want to move there. Now that I'm in Florida ... I'd LOVE to be in the mountains! HA! Now the question is: do you remember "Plunk your magic twanger, Froggie!"? Well, I do. It was the Buster Brown show and we watched it on a TV with a little round screen - like a porthole. That means I'm older than you! You can always find me at: http://jbEbert.blogspot.com. Have a wonderful day!

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  10. This is a lovely post. I'm here only to say "Happy Birthday to you Julie !!!", I grew up in Eastern Europe, so I can't remember anything you mentioned, they never existed in my country in times. I think you're still young, because this is what you feel and I'm happy for you.

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  11. Hi Julie, What a great post! Yes, I see the evidence right there in plain sight and you are 58! I remembered 30 of the things you listed - so we are very close in age. Did you watch Lassie, come home from school to watch The Mickey Mouse Club, or American Bandstand or wear a "skort"? Have a very Happy Birthday dear Julie. The world is a better place with you in it.

    Bonnie a.k.a. Original Art Stud.

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  12. Ooops I got so into recalling childhood things I forgot to make a selection for the contest! Difficult choice, but today the Columbine calls. bonnie

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  13. the HAPPIEST of birthday wishes and smoochies to one of the coolest ladies i've ever met!!
    you are so awesome!! i love your spirit, talent and your beauty!

    hmmm, i have a few 7" vinyls, does that count?
    i'm going to cheat and piggyback the others and guess 58. but i do agree you look 36 for sure!! :)

    i'm digging your new thistle shot!! that would be my pick! :)
    have a beautiful day!
    x
    m

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  14. Happy Birthday Julie! If I guessed from your picture, I'd say 45 but if I recall, you mentioned how many years you've been married and that would not be right. I'm going to guess that you are 57 based on the "clues" as you call them!

    I recall about 8 things on that list but I wasn't even one year old when the first man walked on the moon. Oh, before I forget, my favorite print of yours is probably the Victorian Cat. I love the Horsetooth photo too but since the Victorian cat is how I came to find your shop, it's special!

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  15. Wow happy birthday. I remember most of the items on that list. Actually I was the Fuller Brush Mans assistant for one summer. Love this phrase:I'm smart enough to have learned from my mistakes and lucky enough to have survived them.

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  16. Julie - happy birhtday. Looking for the clues was interesting. So is there one extra? If so then 57, otherwise, 58.
    I remember everything on that list, and the items mentioned by bonnie above. How about when the milk froze in the winter and the ice made a tall thin tower with the cardboard thingy perched on the top? And did you mention Howdy Doody?
    I couldn't pick a favorite, it would be a toss up between Tranquility, Morning Mist, and Golden Bliss. But the new columbine one is nice, too.
    Hope you enjoy the day.
    Peace and Hugs, Judi

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  17. Happy Birthday, Julie! May you have many,many,many more.

    I love Columbine in Blue!

    I remember all of those things. Guess I am older than I thought. Guess I better start that Bucket Lsit!

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  18. Freesia Fantasy is my fav.
    I think you turned 57.
    I don't remember mimeograph paper, but my Dad was a Fuller Brush Man and I use to help him bag up the orders for $.50
    I remember watching The Beatles on TV like it was yesterday. Ah "Yesterday" one of my favs:)

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  19. Aw, happy birthday, Julie! It makes me very nostalgic to remember quite a few things on that list. :)

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  20. Happy Birthday to you... If i have to guess your age it would be 54. Or how about 40/14!
    I remember all those listed...I would add 8mm home movies. The first color TV's.
    Love all the shots, fav would be Thistle.
    happy happy
    regina
    http://designsbyred3of5.blogspot.com/

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  21. Julie I see your photo is from 1956 but do not know how old you were in the pic...so fess up, how old kiddo? : )

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  22. Happy Birthday to you, friend! You're between 55-60 and I just made it to 40 so I wasn't around for most (but have heard of all) of the items on your list! :)

    Aspen Light is my fave:
    http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=17744303

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  23. I loved reading all these comments! You made me smile, laugh and giggle. I will save them forever. You need to wait one more day for the answer and I'll announce the winner then too. Remember, you must give me the correct age to be eligible! So far about 25% are correct. So feel free to amend your answer until midnight tonight. Good luck and thank you so much for participating!

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  24. Ok, I'll fess up! I'm 41 and remember a LOT from your list. Some items made me laugh because it brought back so many great memmories. I have to say though, I feel much younger than I realy am. I feel 25 inside! Happy birthday!

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  25. Oh fun! I remember most of these except news reels before movies. However, there was a cartoon and a short subject.--miss that. A few others I don't remember. I remember gas being 42cents and an attendant pumped it, cleaned your windshield, and checked your oil.
    I used to ride my bike to the store, and with a quarter, I could buy quite a lot of candy.
    I love your tribute to your age. I am up there as well.

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  26. What a cool idea for a challenge!

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Contemporary photography of the cities, landscapes, flora and fauna of the American West.
Julie Magers Soulen Photography