Entry bubble Turning One: Forty Years Later

By: Nancy | September 25, 2008 | Category: General

Baby Nancy and a jackolanternThree things have surprised me so far during Gov Gab's Birthday Week:

--The full heads of hair my fellow Gov Gabbers were sporting at the age of one, while I had more of an auburn fuzz going on. (I'm trying to beat down my feelings of inadequacy.)

--Joanne and I were born the same year. See, I thought for sure she was YOUNGER.

--And there was so much going on in 1968, the turbulent year that Joanne and I turned one:

Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr., Vietnam, Nixon, Hendrix and the Hippies—I missed it all. I had no idea on the day that I staggered my first steps around the coffee table, blew out my candle and grabbed a fistful of buttercream icing that two African-American athletes were raising their fists at the Mexico Olympics in a black power salute.

Back then, my world was all about letting my parents know when my belly was empty and my diaper was full. My folks and the next door neighbors who sang "Happy Birthday" to me around the dining room table were my entire community. And that really was the definition of community in 1968—the people living in the grids of streets and tracts of homes around you.

Forty years later, "community" isn't just about where you live anymore; it's also about who you are, and connecting online with people who share your experiences, interests and concerns, regardless of the location of the plot of soil or patch of concrete you—or they—live on.

Government's changed in those forty years, too. Sure, you can still get lots of information about your in-person community to help you find out about your town's services and history. But government has also learned to give you information customized for your life experience community, whether you're a parent, a military vet or active duty, a senior, run a business or a nonprofit, are a government employee or are from another country and want to learn about or visit the US.

Wherever you are and whatever your life experience, we're so grateful that you're part of the Gov Gab community. We love hearing from you and always welcome your ideas. I just wish I could email you a slice of cake to say thanks!

Gov Gab birthday cake

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Entry bubble When I Turned One...Happy Birthday, Gov Gab!

By: Colleen | September 24, 2008 | Category: Fun

baby colleenThe year was 1984...there was something strange in your neighborhood. Who were you calling? Ghostbusters! Bruce Springsteen and a teenage Courtney Cox were "Dancing in the Dark" and everyone was tuned in to Dynasty.

In 1984 (the year, not the Orwell novel), the average movie ticket was $2.50 and a gallon of gas ran you $1.10. The first Apple MacIntosh went on sale and widespread famine in Ethiopia inspired musicians to record, "Do They Know It's Christmas?" under the name "Band Aid." In politics, Geraldine Ferraro was a Vice Presidential nominee.

Fast-forward to 2008: our neighborhoods are still strange. Bruce Springsteen continues to tour, and Dynasty is a work of genius compared to the reality tv we watch today.

While the cost of movies and gas have us saving our pennies, Mac has us wired to iPods and iPhones. "Do They Know It's Christmas" is in heavy radio rotation the day after Halloween, and once again a woman is a Vice Presidential nominee.

I suppose it's accurate to say, "everything old is new again." However, considering my current Internet and cell phone addictions, I'm not willing to go back to the 80's. Plus, the hair? Just bad.

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