What were you doing 40 years ago today?

by Syl Wed Aug 16, 2017 5:28 pm

Elvis died....and so many people can remember where they were and how they heard the news.
Like when other iconic figures die....it stays in the memory..

I was in my 20's...I had grown up watching his films and listening to his music.
I was shocked when I heard Reginald Bosanquet announce it on the news. At first he said he hoped it wasn't true because the news was just breaking, then he clarified it and said indeed the King was dead. Crying or Very sad

by Cass Wed Aug 16, 2017 5:39 pm

I was in my dad's car and he was taking me to summer day camp, and it was on the radio. I was 9. I clearly remember having a banana and ham and Swiss cheese sandwich in my lunchbox.

I was upset as I knew who Elvis was and loved his songs and shows (of course that was before I knew he was a crackpot). Still love his music.

One time I may tell the story of my cousin throwing up next to his grave after we got drunk at 15 at another cousin's wedding. True story.

by Syl Wed Aug 16, 2017 5:53 pm

Cass wrote:I was in my dad's car and he was taking me to summer day camp, and it was on the radio. I was 9. I clearly remember having a banana and ham and Swiss cheese sandwich in my lunchbox.

I was upset as I knew who Elvis was and loved his songs and shows (of course that was before I knew he was a crackpot). Still love his music.

One time I may tell the story of my cousin throwing up next to his grave after we got drunk at 15 at another cousin's wedding. True story.

It sounds a lot more interesting than ironing, which is what I was doing at the time Cass.
Odd how we remember though...even if it was doing something mundane.

I don't think Brits really knew how bad his health was at the time of his death. I remember his music and the early films he made...which were surprisingly good.
Sadly his career and his health had declined a lot in the 70's....but his legacy lives on even now.

by Cass Wed Aug 16, 2017 6:05 pm

It's weird. I was on a school trip and on the bus when I heard about Pope John Paul II and Ronald Reagan being shot.

Also I was due to babysit for some neighbors when John Lennon was killed. I went but they were too upset to go out so I sat with them watching the tv about it all.

Like I said, very weird. I think it coorealates with that other thread we were talking on about our brains being programmed to remember negative rather than positive experiences.

by Original Quill Wed Aug 16, 2017 6:05 pm

Teaching at the University of Arizona, in Tucson. At the end of class someone broke the news as everyone was milling about.

by Raggamuffin Wed Aug 16, 2017 6:31 pm

At my friend's house I think. I might have heard about it at home, but we discussed it at her house.

by Fred Moletrousers Wed Aug 16, 2017 6:33 pm

Damned if I can remember exactly where I was or what I was doing when Elvis fell off the perch.

I do remember the breaking news of Kennedy's assassination though...I was a very humble young reporter covering a local Chamber of Commerce dinner and a minion went up to the top table and handed the president a note.

I still recall his shocked reaction: A very loud "Good God!" that stopped the babble of conversation throughout the room.

by Syl Wed Aug 16, 2017 10:44 pm

Cass wrote:It's weird. I was on a school trip and on the bus when I heard about Pope John Paul II and Ronald Reagan being shot.

Also I was due to babysit for some neighbors when John Lennon was killed. I went but they were too upset to go out so I sat with them watching the tv about it all.

Like I said, very weird. I think it coorealates with that other thread we were talking on about our brains being programmed to remember negative rather than positive experiences.

Bad news does seem to have a bigger, longer lasting impact on the memory than good news ever does.
Even when someone telephones with bad news....those conversations stay, word for word......much more thaan a call relaying good new.

by Syl Wed Aug 16, 2017 10:50 pm

Fred Moletrousers wrote:Damned if I can remember exactly where I was or what I was doing when Elvis fell off the perch.

I do remember the breaking news of Kennedy's assassination though...I was a very humble young reporter covering a local Chamber of Commerce dinner and a minion went up to the top table and handed the president a note.

I still recall his shocked reaction: A very loud "Good God!" that stopped the babble of conversation throughout the room.

I remember coming home from school and watching it all on a little black and white tv.
They showed over and over the crowd panicking and screaming, one woman in particular diving on the floor.
JFK's assassination pobably had the biggest impact worlwide of any event in history.