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Canada, Chateauguay, Diana Schwenk, family, friends, growing up, happy, health, Hump Day Chronicles, joy, kids, life, living in the moment, love, memories, Montreal, parents, Quebec, Relationships
I was recently reminded how fortunate I was to grow up in the seventies because of a Facebook page I was invited to join called Chateauguay in the 70’s. It’s been a real treat to catch up with some of the folks I grew up with and learn what they’ve been up to.
We’ve discussed everything from who remembers their old phone number to where everyone lives now and what they do for a living.
The other day, I checked out my childhood home on Instant Street View, shared it on the Chateauguay in the 70s page and suggested others do the same. Many did and some even compared instant street view with photos from when they lived there decades ago. After posting it to my brother’s page (above photo), I took a virtual walk around my old neighbourhood.
It took me right back to my childhood. You should try it!
I used to get on my bike, go around the block and pick up Theresa, then the two of us would ride to Gloria’s house, pick her up. Go play in Maple Park for a bit, go to Cam’s and get a cherry coke and hickory sticks. Maybe ride down to the Chateauguay River, sit on the bank, talk about stuff while lazily tossing rocks into the river or take off our shoes, roll up our pant legs and cool our feet.
I remember cutting through the field, walking the back way to the Chateauguay Shopping Centre, getting greasy fries in a paper bag, adding salt and vinegar and shaking it up, buying farmer sausages at Buster’s for a buck and eating them on the way home, joining in on skipping games at the end of my street…
Blue bells, cockle shells, Evie, ivy, over. I like coffee. I like tea. I like the boys and the boys like me. yes, no, maybe so, yes, no, maybe so…
Hopscotch, Red Rover, Frozen Tag, Mother May I, Hide and Seek, Trick or Treat, Cowboys and Indians, building forts, street chalk art, fire crackers, footsie, belly laughing, roller skating, mall walking, singing and dancing.
Often we went out after breakfast and sometimes we didn’t come home till supper. Those were the days. Outside was our playground. We never ran out of stuff to do.
~ HUMP DAY CHRONICLES ~
What was your favourite childhood activity? Which decade did you grow up in?
Minuscule Moments said:
Oh the hair and clothes, i was right there growing up on the other side of the world Diana. Use to head down to the Wagga Wagga beach with girlfriends, sipping cokes and eating crisps and catching the five O’clock wave. Which was a man going by at five o’clock in his boat because we lived near the Murrinbidgee River. I can still smell the gum trees and see us sitting there all young an innocent at 15.
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dianasschwenk said:
Sounds amazing Kath, I can sooooo picture it! ❤
Diana xo
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elizabeth2560 said:
I am a child of the 60s / 70s. I spent some time in my home town while I was caring for my mother. It was like being transported back to my childhood. It was a marvellous experience.
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dianasschwenk said:
It’s good to revisit the old neighbourhood. When I go back east in the summer, I think my brother, mom and I plan to go back and see our old house again Elizabeth I haven’t been there since 1987!. ❤
Diana xo
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Alan A. Malizia: Contagious Optimism! Co-Author said:
Diana, I played many of those games listed as a youth, as well. Some things just stand the test of time.
-Alan
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dianasschwenk said:
Yes. I played hopscotch with my daughter, but I don’t think she played many of the other games we used to play. ❤
Diana xo
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Jean said:
If one has a good childhood, it’s always good to reflect on those memories. You know, your carefree descriptions of wandering around outside seems so normal to you and I, but for a lot of children now: not really. Kept more closely to home.
I grew up in the late 1960’s into 1970’s. Loved skipping rope and …bicycling around. Escape from big sister duties of babysitting younger sibs. 🙂 No, they were around sometimes too.
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dianasschwenk said:
So true Jean. I’m so glad I grew up at a time that allowed me to be a kid, an explorer, a free spirit. ❤
Diana xo
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kerbey said:
That was so fun to read! Except for the crimping. 😉
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dianasschwenk said:
haha thanks Kerbey. ❤
Diana xo
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Jim McKeever said:
Wiffle ball in my backyard. Late 60s, early 70s. Great memories!
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dianasschwenk said:
(smiling) I’m going to google Wiffle ball – I have no idea what that is Jim! ❤
Diana xo
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utesmile said:
I should probably check out the house I was born in my birth town, but then we moved when I was 5, so don’t remember that much. The house where I grew up is still there and I am staying in it when I visit my mum. It is not the same though without them. And since my dad died it feels empty and cold, Most neighbours have died , the children have moved away and there are only some left who are old themselves and alone. I find it not so easy to go there all the time. I think you understand that.
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dianasschwenk said:
Ute, I am so sorry for the loss of your dad and all the other losses you have experienced. Hugs. ❤
Diana xo
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Deb Weyrich-Cody said:
So there you were, a couple of years younger, but only (5 or 6) hours away – with you living in the city in Québec [that white brick with dark mortar is just SO Québécois, n’est pas?; ] and me in the country in Ontario – yet with SO many similarities, it’s amazing!
Totally LOVED the yearbook pic (once I figured out the codes; )
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dianasschwenk said:
Yes so close and yet so far Deb! Thanks so much for dropping by now. ❤
Diana xo
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Don Royster said:
I think things began to change in the ’80s. Not necessarily for the better. Unfortunately we have let fear overtake us and change us for the worse. It’s sad that kids these days don’t grow up with the out of doors as their world. They sure are missing out.
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dianasschwenk said:
Yes they are missing out Don, it is sad. ❤
Diana xo
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dianasschwenk said:
Dear Diana
I was very touched of seeing our old house from Chateauguay again and the good life we had .Sometimes I wish I could turn back the time and relive it again. I have a lot of nice memories. Do you remember Mr. Burns our neighbor next to us? He past away last week. Terry Hasenhuendle called me today to let me know. I really felt bad .Do you know that Stan Roussel also past away? Our neighbors beside us are also gone. They both past away in the same year of 2006. I am sure that you have seen this on Face book. Well my dear daughter I wanted to share that with you in case you did not about all this. On the same time I wish you a nice evening and take care of yourself.
Love you dearly
Mom
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dianasschwenk said:
Hi mom,
I knew about Stan Rouselle but I didn’t know about Mr. Burns, so sorry to hear about that. That house and Chateauguay was a great place to grow up. I have many wonderful memories. ❤
Love you mom
Diana xo
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joannerambling said:
Yes from the time I was about Leo’s age (8) I would walk around to the local shops for mum or to spend my pocket money, cannot imagine letting Leo or Blain do that. Blain has been going to a friends house after school for the last week or so, and we tell him to take the 2-way (walkie talkie) with him, didn’t have them when I was a child
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dianasschwenk said:
No we didn’t! I’m sure glad it was safe enough Jo-Anne, or our parents weren’t as worried as we seem to be today because my childhood was awesome! ❤
Diana xo
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Val Boyko said:
Ahh Yes 💛
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dianasschwenk said:
exactly Val! ❤
Diana xo
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elizabeth2560 said:
Love that song!
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Val Boyko said:
It stays with you for while doesn’t it!?!
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cyclingrandma said:
So lovely– sounds like my childhood in Killingworth, CT. Outside all the time.
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dianasschwenk said:
Kids today miss out, I think, Lisa. ❤
Diana xo
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Wyrd Smythe said:
Yeah, I’ve used Google maps street view to check out all the old places I lived The Bronx in New York City (1950s), Minneapolis as a kid (1960s), California as a teen and young man (1967-1984), and now back to Minnesota (where I’ve lived five places in 32 years).
Seeing the NYC and Mpls homes again was weird. I’d driven by the old place in Mpls, so I’d seen it with my own eyes, but I haven’t been to NYC since we left in 1960. Weirdly, I sort of remembered the place.
Favorite childhood activity… mostly anything outside, but especially climbing trees. Loved climbing trees! Also designing and building things… that goes way back.
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dianasschwenk said:
Good old tree climbing. Sit up there quietly and then scare the poop out of someone who walks passed by merely speaking to them Smitty! ❤
Diana xo
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Wyrd Smythe said:
Ha! Well, that’s exactly why elephants paint their toenails red! So they can hide in cherry trees! XD
(You’re probably wondering how elephants get up into cherry trees. It’s simple. They just plant a cherry stone, sit on it, and wait. Elephants are very patient.)
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dianasschwenk said:
and live longer than us!
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Jennifer Kelland Perry said:
Wow, Diana! Lovely trip down memory lane. But I laughed at the crimped hair. 😀
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dianasschwenk said:
Thanks Jennifer – I cringe at the crimped hair, almost didn’t include it hahaha ❤
Diana xo
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Bruce Thiesen said:
Fun blog post. These are absolutely terrific photos.
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dianasschwenk said:
Thanks so much Bruce! ❤
Diana xo
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Louise Gallagher said:
Divine.
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dianasschwenk said:
Almost like watching My Girl or Stand by Me, eh? ❤
Diana xo
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