Now I know why my high schoolers look at me like I’m a relic. They aren’t even this old yet, but I remember being this old in 1976. Youth is wasted on the young, and for most of those years, I was very wasted.
I tell my kids, (and their friends) when they care to even listen – that the next decade before them will be the chance of a lifetime to discover life before settling down.
I had a full beautiful head of blond, curly, shoulder-length Peter Frampton hair, as skinny as these guys and desperate to lose my virginity before I was 18. I lived off ramen and Coors Banquet. Money went to dime bags.
This is like looking in a history book – black and white photo and all. God, I’m old.
Another post right up my alley! Not a big fan of station wagons, but so much better than current SUVs ,this MERCURY (likely a Colony Park) was one of the best. MERCURY was a great Marque (no pun intended) sadly gone. Guys look like they are enjoying the comfort of traveling first class!
Your advice is SO true. When my father retired, he told my mother they needed to do whatever they wanted while they were able. Fortunately, they did. Then spent final years unable to travel. I followed their advice and had MANY great experiences. Now I am at the point of no longer being able to travel. BUT am thankful for still being able to manage local business and cherish great memories of good times and friendships in many places across the USA .
In my youth I took lots of long distance road trips around the country on my motorcycles. Got to see lots of great scenery in almost every State. Now I do all my travelling, in cars, but still love long road trips. Still got the photos to jog the memories. No crazy days in my youth, I was always careful to stay away from bad influences, it paid off many times over in a comfortable retirement.
Great picture. Those guys are just a couple of years older than me. And one of my buddies had a Mercury wagon a few years newer than that one. Many a good road trip there.
Summer of 1975 my buddy and I travelled across Canada and US in my Vega GT.
Six weeks on the road. We knew then it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Grant and I were both 20 years old and skinny like the guys in the pic. In 1976 I began my career as a broadcast journalist and road trips for weeks on end would never happen again. I tell young people to travel while you’re single and see the sights but learn from those you meet. You might then appreciate where you live.
I still remember those days, sadly I only have one picture of me from 1976 when I’d just returned from Guatemala, Centro America, I was skinny as a rail then .
I agree with these comments : do thing _NOW_ while you still can ! .
Once life catches up to you you won’t be able to physically if not financially .
I too traveled widely when young, my work as a Mechanic often took me far from home .
Life is a gift so don’t waste a single day of it .
-Nate
(the old, fat, white haired guy in my mirror)
Take advantage of your freedom and youth while you can. It won’t last forever, but old age isn’t the worst thing. This is my favorite photo from a ’76 trip up to British Columbia.
Now I know why my high schoolers look at me like I’m a relic. They aren’t even this old yet, but I remember being this old in 1976. Youth is wasted on the young, and for most of those years, I was very wasted.
I tell my kids, (and their friends) when they care to even listen – that the next decade before them will be the chance of a lifetime to discover life before settling down.
I had a full beautiful head of blond, curly, shoulder-length Peter Frampton hair, as skinny as these guys and desperate to lose my virginity before I was 18. I lived off ramen and Coors Banquet. Money went to dime bags.
This is like looking in a history book – black and white photo and all. God, I’m old.
Another post right up my alley! Not a big fan of station wagons, but so much better than current SUVs ,this MERCURY (likely a Colony Park) was one of the best. MERCURY was a great Marque (no pun intended) sadly gone. Guys look like they are enjoying the comfort of traveling first class!
Family friends had a’68 Colony Park and even as a child I could see what a noticeable step up it was over our’67 Ford Country Sedan wagon.
Picked my daughter Erin D up at the bus station downtown Toronto last night.
On the way home I reminded her “Do stuff while you can, when you get older you might not want to, and if you want to you might not be able to”
She’s spending the summer in Vancouver, so gratifying to see young people going on adventures
Your advice is SO true. When my father retired, he told my mother they needed to do whatever they wanted while they were able. Fortunately, they did. Then spent final years unable to travel. I followed their advice and had MANY great experiences. Now I am at the point of no longer being able to travel. BUT am thankful for still being able to manage local business and cherish great memories of good times and friendships in many places across the USA .
Had a Colony Park when I was in grade school. Wish I had it now.
Believe this generation of MERCURY provided original car(black Park Lane) for original HAWAII 5 0. Had 89 Town Coupe which I wish I still had!
Except for maybe the single digit city gas mileage and 15 on the highway.
In my youth I took lots of long distance road trips around the country on my motorcycles. Got to see lots of great scenery in almost every State. Now I do all my travelling, in cars, but still love long road trips. Still got the photos to jog the memories. No crazy days in my youth, I was always careful to stay away from bad influences, it paid off many times over in a comfortable retirement.
Great picture. Those guys are just a couple of years older than me. And one of my buddies had a Mercury wagon a few years newer than that one. Many a good road trip there.
Summer of 1975 my buddy and I travelled across Canada and US in my Vega GT.
Six weeks on the road. We knew then it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Grant and I were both 20 years old and skinny like the guys in the pic. In 1976 I began my career as a broadcast journalist and road trips for weeks on end would never happen again. I tell young people to travel while you’re single and see the sights but learn from those you meet. You might then appreciate where you live.
THE GEEZER REPORT
[there, I fixed it for you =8-) ]
I still remember those days, sadly I only have one picture of me from 1976 when I’d just returned from Guatemala, Centro America, I was skinny as a rail then .
I agree with these comments : do thing _NOW_ while you still can ! .
Once life catches up to you you won’t be able to physically if not financially .
I too traveled widely when young, my work as a Mechanic often took me far from home .
Life is a gift so don’t waste a single day of it .
-Nate
(the old, fat, white haired guy in my mirror)
Take advantage of your freedom and youth while you can. It won’t last forever, but old age isn’t the worst thing. This is my favorite photo from a ’76 trip up to British Columbia.