Summary

The website content reflects on the author's personal nostalgia, covering topics from childhood in the 1970s and 1980s, including beloved animals, school athletics, amusement parks, analogue technology, and early video gaming with Atari, as a response to an A-Z challenge.

Abstract

The author, reminiscing about the past in response to the A-Z In Living Color challenge, delves into a treasure trove of childhood memories from the 1970s and 1980s. The narrative begins with a deep affection for cats, starting with Kirsty Brown in 1977 and later Jaime Brown in 2001, emphasizing the joy and healing that animals bring to humans. The article then shifts to the unique athletic events of the author's youth, such as trash can races, highlighting the whimsical nature of childhood sports. Amusement parks like Durban Funworld are fondly remembered for their ability to entertain, regardless of technological advancements. The transition from analogue TV and stereo systems to modern smart TVs is acknowledged, yet the author cherishes the memories associated with the former. The journey concludes with the early days of video gaming, featuring Atari consoles, and invites readers to share their own childhood memories, extending an invitation to continue the nostalgic exploration through another article.

Opinions

The author expresses a profound love for cats, considering them a lifelong passion and a source of deep emotional connection.
There is a sense of amusement and nostalgia for the quirky athletic activities of childhood, such as running with a trash can on one's head, which may seem odd in retrospect.
Amusement parks are seen as timeless sources of joy, with the simplicity of earlier parks being just as delightful as today's more sophisticated versions.
The author has a fondness for the tactile and interactive nature of analogue technology, despite the convenience of modern digital equivalents.
Early video gaming with systems like Atari is remembered with affection, highlighting the impact of

Animals, Athletics, Amusement Parks, Analogue, and Atari

A response to In Living Color’s November Challenge

Analogue TVs and the early days of video games. Photo by Cyril Brown.

When JoAnn Ryan tagged me into her A-Z In Living Color challenge, I was excited and up for the task.

As I started to go through my decades of photos to see what A’s existed, I stumbled across my trusty old folder of childhood photos and smiled contentedly as I scrolled through memories of the 70s and 80s.

So, let’s take a ride in the way-back machine to a magical place called the 1970s.

Animals

Kirsty Brown — the first kitty I loved deeply. Photo by Cyril Brown.

I’ve made no secret of the fact that I’m totally obsessed with the feline of the species — cats are my kryptonite and have been since Kirsty Brown, the first cat I ever had, was brought into my world in 1977. I loved her with all my heart and never thought I’d love an animal more until I found Jaime Brown, or he found me) in 2001.

Animals bring us joy — whether you are a cat or dog person, whether you prefer farm animals or house pets, whether you are a horse junkie or have a slight obsession with squirrels and chipmunks. The beauty and innocence of critters awake a kindness within us, a desire to be better, to love more, and to trust those four-legged angels that wander among us.

Animals heal us and make us better humans.

Athletics

Trash can races, yes ma’am! Photo by Cyril Brown.

Well, this may be a new one to some of y’all, but apparently running 100 meters with a trash can on your head was a thing at my elementary school athletics days.

I remember the long jump and the high jump, the 100m sprint and the 400m run, as well as a myriad of other team activities including rounders — which is the British equivalent of baseball — netball, and field hockey. I do not, however, remember running down the field with a trash can on my head!

What weird and wacky athletic activities did y’all have to deal with?

Amusement Parks

Durban Funworld circa 1980. Photo by Cyril Brown.

I don’t care how old you are, amusement parks are enjoyable — just pick your adventure!

In the late 1950s, a small amusement park was built on the beachfront in a popular South African city called Durban. As we lived about an hour away from the city, my folks would take us down to Durban Funworld from time to time during the 70s and 80s.

Whilst amusement parks have come a long way, kids can be happy with just about anything that moves in the air or along a track. And if you can’t afford to go to one… make your own!

Pulling my sister along on our patio. Photo by Cyril Brown.

Don’t worry, she’s still alive and well. Potentially emotionally scarred, but alive nonetheless.

Harry Potter World is the next one I intend to visit!

Analogue TV & Stereo

From the time TV came into our home, we were hooked! Photo by Cyril Brown.

Whilst smart TVs are indeed smart and make our viewing experiences far more convenient, the “remoteless” memories from the way-back machine are fun to recall. Who else was instructed by the parental units to get up and change the channel before the miracle of remote controls entered our lives?

Whilst many of us are not too eager to counter-spin the world on its axis to go back in time before the wonder of digital, analogue is burned in many of our memories.

The earphone smoosh face. Photos by Cyril Brown.

Let’s not forget the old analogue stereo systems with the earphone cables thick enough to bungy jump. The “smoosh face” gets me every time!

God bless music!

Atari

Playing our first “video game” on vacation in 1979 — possibly pong.

And here we are again — back full circle to my opening picture, 1970s video games.

To be honest, I have no idea whether this console is Atari or not, but I’m sure I played on an Atari machine at some arcade in the 1970s. Whilst they weren’t prolific in South Africa way back when, they were around and many a Saffa kid whiled away precious childhood hours throwing coins into the Pac-Man, Space Invaders, and Donkey Kong machines.

Video games may have been a staple of many of your homes in the land before time and the Atari Video Computer System was one of the first.

What games caused you to yell out, “five more minutes!” when called for dinner?

Thank you for journeying in the way-back machine with me and please share your own memories — I would love to see them.

If you’re keen to keep this trip down memory lane going, have a read through my little world of nostalgia.

Over 40? Let’s Take a Nostalgic Jaunt Down Memory Lane

Join me in the way-back machine for a visit to the forgotten world of analogue

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