The Mother of Invention

Though I get no credit in the paper, the photo of the upside-down clown in this October 1977 issue of The Mini Page is me. The Mini Page is now syndicated and appears in 500 newspapers worldwide, but it originated in Raleigh the same year I was born.

Beyond circumstantial proof, I submit a more recent photo of the papier-mâché clown head that was part of the costume. I rediscovered it this year while cleaning out junk from the house I grew up in. While posting this photo, I noticed a happy coincidence that in the background you can see a basket full of thread and sewing notions that belonged to my mom...

Hawaii Statehood Day

The State of Hawaii flag hangs at our house to commemorate Hawaii Statehood Day. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a proclamation making Hawaii the 50th state on Friday, August 21, 1959. Rather than commemorate it on the 21st, Hawaiians celebrate Statehood on the third Friday of August. They usually get the day off, which is pretty cool because the rest of us don't normally have a good excuse to take off in August. This flag can also work for King Kamehameha Day June 11, but that's pretty close to Flag Day in the rest of the United States (June 14).

Aloha Earrings

Hula girl earrings for Hawaii Statehood Day, celebrated on the third Friday of August.

Olympic Spirits

Stick me with this pin if you must, but don't hold it against me. I prefer dark brews. Props to Budweiser, though, for being an athletic supporter.

I Got Seoul

I couldn't get a very clear picture with the iphone, but this Olympic pin is from Seoul, Korea, in 1988. It came with a box of Kodak film I bought. At K-mart. The one that isn't there any more. No, the other one that's not there any more. (Old Raleigh peeps should understand.)

Grand Torino

Here's my 2006 Torino Olympic pin. Ain't it grand? I have no idea where I got it.

Flags of our Fathers

These European flag earrings could be appropriate for the Olympics or a variety of national holidays. I didn't bother adding hooks for the photo, but they are easily made into earrings despite the fact that they were originally charms on a bracelet I bought at Busch Gardens around the age of 13.

I case you don't recognize them, these are the flags of (clockwise from top left) Italy, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. Naturally, I have Old Glory earrings as well.

Fake Lake

This pin is not officially licensed Olympic merchandise; however it was produced for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Lake Lanier hosted the rowing events, I believe.

Variable Pinterest

NationsBank? NCNB? Bank of America? Can't keep up with bank names any easier than keeping up with Olympic sprinters. Fortunately, they issued an official Olympic pin so we'd know what they were called in 1996.

Olympic Flames

I spent an embarrassingly large amount of time riding my broom around town searching for gold, silver, and bronze candles that would work on my candelabra.

O-pinning Ceremony

Olympic pins! I has 'em. This may be the only Olympic pin I actually purchased (in Atlanta in 1996).

Going for the Gold

These are my Olympics earrings. They are official Olympic merchandise. Can you guess where I got them? I'll give you a hint: I had a BLAST when I attended. They were sold in silver and gold, and of course I had to go for the gold.

Though I was not present for the bombing, I attended two events during the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. I barely remember what the events were. Something like Women's Basketball: China vs. Venezuela or something. Oh yeah, and a track and field event where we were supposed to be able to see the Marathon runners as they entered the stadium, but I was with some old farts who had to stop for coffee and pee twice on the way, and we missed the first couple dozen marathoners. Still, it was kinda cool to cheer just as strong for the latecomers as they would straggle in to the stadium.

It really was a great experience - the Olympics in general. Hard to describe the atmosphere. Everyone was friendly and helpful, despite the heat and the bombing, and if you ever got stuck waiting in a line, you could always kill time by trading pins with someone nearby. Over the next couple weeks, I will be uploading photos of my Olympic pins. I don't have that many, but if you want to trade, let me know.