When we look back, 50 years can feel like the blink of an eye, but in the moment, every year, every season, seemed to unfold slowly, with all its highs and lows. It may feel like 1975 was “just yesterday,” especially when certain songs, memories, or even smells bring it vividly back. Yet somehow, in the rearview mirror, almost a whole lifetime has passed.

 “Jaws” was one of the first movies I ever saw, and it left a lasting impression. I still remember sitting in that dark theater, clutching my tub of hot, buttered popcorn, heart pounding. When the shark lunged at the boat, I nearly jumped out of my seat and spilled my popcorn. After that, the ocean never felt the same. I could not shake the feeling that something with sharp teeth might be circling below, just waiting for my legs to dangle. Luckily, I grew up near a quiet little pond, where the water felt safe and familiar, and summer swims could still be part of my world.

 “Saturday Night Live,” debuted in 1975, though it would be a few more years before I was old enough to stay up late enough to watch it. Ironically, now that I’m old enough, it is once again too late for me because I cannot stay awake.

 “All in the Family” was the number one television show at the time, which always felt a bit ironic to me, because Archie Bunker reminded me so much of my own dad. From the cigars he smoked to his strong opinions and blunt way of speaking, the resemblance was uncanny. None of us would dare argue with him. But to compare my mother to Edith would have been a great disservice. She was more like an angel, wrapped in a quiet glow that no harsh word could penetrate. She would sit with a gentle smile, untouched by the harsh words around her.

The pet rock became the number one toy in 1975. A rock. It sounds ridiculous now. They sold for about $4 each, which was no small sum at the time, especially for a kid. The rocks themselves cost next to nothing, but the clever packaging and tongue-in-cheek marketing made them a sensation. Gary Dahl, the man behind the idea, sold over a million and a half of them. Who would’ve thought that one of the biggest fads of the year would be something I could find in your driveway?

Speaking of prices, a small, plain color television in 1975 sold for anywhere between $300 and $500, the equivalent of around $3,300 today. It is no wonder people wanted to get their money’s worth out of those hefty console models. I have seen many of them repurposed into furniture, giving them a second life beyond grainy sitcoms. Their large frames make perfect storage units for books, records, or DVDs, and some creative souls have even turned them into home bars, complete with shelves for glasses and bottles. But my favorite transformation? The aquarium. There’s something wonderfully poetic about replacing Archie Bunker’s grumpy face with a tank full of colorful, peaceful fish.

Of course, technology was a whole different world back then. In 1975, a young Bill Gates had just developed Microsoft, short for “microcomputer software.” That same year, a Kodak engineer invented the first digital camera. It wasn’t exactly something you’d pack for a family vacation, it weighed eight pounds and took black-and-white photos that were recorded on a cassette tape. I remember visiting Disney World about 25 years ago and seeing dads in the crowd, dutifully lugging those massive shoulder-mounted video cameras around the park, capturing every lovely family moment while sweating in the Florida sun. It was a far cry from today’s pocket-sized cellphones that can do it all.

The mood in 1975 was a mix of restlessness and hope. People were recovering from the Vietnam War and Watergate, facing economic struggles, but embracing cultural change and new beginnings. It was an exciting, hopeful time for me. Twenty-five years later, much has changed. Technology has transformed my life, not always for the better. Yes, it is great we have cellphones and instant access to people and information, but it can be so annoying when Hubby is looking up the grocery sales when I am trying to talk to him about something. (“I’m listening,” he says as he compares prices of pot roasts.)

So much has changed over the past 50 years, but the most important things remain. I continue to hold fast to the value of positive human experiences, accepting and loving one another, and embracing the power of kindness. In a society that constantly evolves, these simple truths still ground me and reminds me what really matters.