It's pin day at the elementary

Of course, I just found this out this morning.  It took me a bit to find the bag holding this treasure - it got lost in the room change shuffle.  But I found it.  It's been about four years since we dug it out when Allan was competing in the same spirit day contest.   Believe it or not - his class didn't win that year - they lost by two buttons.  Two buttons! I've added some since then so hopefully this class scores the ice cream reward this year. (They fill both sides of the scarf)

The first couple years that Allan participated in this spirit day - we pinned all these onto his jacket.  I since got smart and did the scarf thing - makes for a much less hectic morning - it becomes just a matter of finding it.

I love this scarf because it's a trip down memory lane - my life in button format.  Wendy asked - how do you have all these, mom? 

I told her that it was common - back in my day - to collect buttons.  We wore them on our denim jackets.  The more the merrier. The bigger the better.

I can't remember where I got this treasure from - but I enjoyed pulling it out several times during the school year on report card day.  I thought I was so clever.

The button collection takes me back to middle school.

Washington Middle School - to be exact.  I remember making some of those buttons for a fun day type activity where we signed up for different fun classes.  One was button making.  I spent a lot of time on those buttons.  And I don't recall ever liking Pepsi - I just liked drawing their logo.

I also remember getting that middle school pin - there was an art contest to design that logo.  I didn't win.

Ah - and Boynton - I was a young fan, I have several of those as well.

The button collection takes me back to high school - we lived in lower Michigan at that time - but they also had button designing contests for each class.  Big buttons were still the rage.

I did a lot of March of Dimes walks/bike rides during my high school years - if you asked me why, I asked you to pledge me. 

The buttons remind me, too, of the hardware store we owned when I was growing up.  The OK Hardware on Hecla Street - just two blocks down from our house, making it easy to walk down there after school and earn my dollar an hour wage running the register and sweeping the floors.

We sold Little John wood burners.

Ah - and the great american smokeout.  I remember that too.  I think my cousin Steve E. was born on that day.  I also remember being on a crusade to get my mom and dad to quit smoking.  They didn't appreciate my crusade. 

I have quite a few pins that were work related.  I worked at a gift shop at Twelve Oaks Mall when the World Cup came to town.  That was a crazy crazy time and we couldn't keep t-shirts in stock.

Another from the gift store days - great advice on a big pin.

More work pins - remember my Mothercare days?  And yes - I was in the band.  I played the flute for the concert season and marching trombone for marching season.  And I went to band camp.

I distinctly remember buying that necking pin - I remember as a sixth grader thinking it was so very clever.  I'm not sure that I really understood it - but I wore it.

I have several of my mother's old pins - also big.  I don't think big pins are in anymore - am I wrong?

You might have noticed a variety of Finnish pins - those bring me back to my hospital stays in Marquette where we travelled at least twice a year for tubes or doctors visits.  A stop at the Finnish store there was always a must.

And the Bicentennial pins - I remember when they built that arena - it was an exciting time.

Special Olympics - lots of those pins as well, as our family friend Rhea used to participate and I would look forward to her button selling each year.

I have a collection of older vintage pins as well - but I don't have those on the scarf - I don't have the nerve to send those to the elementary - it was hard enough to let this go, but it's only material - so I do.  My kids enjoy pulling a big number on spirit day now and then.

Word has it that there's a fourth grader from last year who does the same thing - I wonder who her mom is - I bet we're kindred spirits....

please excuse all typos today - Markie was being particularly sassy while I was typing - hard to hold a complete thought and type it too

Comments

[Laura K.]

Neat how the pins are a trip down Memory Lane. And your kids haul a little Calumet pride to school. :) The necking pin made me laugh! 6th grade?! Did your mother know?! :)

[tania]

*sigh* reason #5,873 why you are the coolest mom i know.

and i wish i had a little more of your nostaglic spirit......i'm more of the "if i'm not using it no reason to keep it, might as well chuck it" mindset. but, these type of posts make me wish is wasn't so much that way.

[Jan Connair]

I do not have any pins left. It's a crying shame. Almost bought one this year at a city-wide marching band competition. It said, "I see BAND people." Hope Wendy helps her class bring home the ice cream.

[Cammy]

Those pins bring back memories of denim jackets with pins on them. Had forgotten about that fashion statement. LOL

[janet_o]

Flute to trombone - that takes some doing :)
We graduated in the same year!

[Juliana]

I remember worrying about Steve's life obligation....that he "probably shouldn't" smoke, being born on such an important day. But, to, my knowledge he doesn't! Must've had a subliminal effect.

[sue Treiber]

she's sure to win! That is quite a collection. I also used to collect big pins, although mosr of them are long gone. I do still have some MTV ones!

[carol in seattle :)]

Shhh! I still love pins and have a bunch. They're all in a little box under the sink in my bathroom. I let Carter wear one to first grade on Tuesday. It says "Pinch me and you're dead meat!" Poor guy didn't have a green shirt so the green button had to do. I *ADORE* your "Carol" button. Fitting, no?

[Linda J]

Great trip down memory lane. Great idea to have your pins on a scarf ready for the kids to use. Just this morning I was thinking that I would take out my charm bracelet and enjoy some of my old (very old - last chram added I was about 18) memories. I was thinking of about doing a scrapbook page about it.:)

[jan]

Thanks for sharing. I like the idea of putting them on a scarf.

[callie]

This was fun.. I used to have a bunch of smarty ones... I can't stand black jelly beans and it had a black jelly bean with the circle and the slash thru it.. They should come back in fashion so I could get a bunch of silly sayings again.. I think that my daughter ran off with my old collection. They are probably in a landfill some where now.. :(

[elizabeth]

I totally forgot about the button making! That was fun! I don't have mine, of course, but I remember making them now.

I hope her class wins. :)

[pcsmart]

i found my pins in a box a few months ago -i had an evil knievil (sp?) one from snake canyon and so many others. you are right, memory lane....what will our kids dig out when they want to remember their childhood collections?