After all the Facts of Life  episodes I watched as a kid I don’t remember this one. Do you?

I really should break out some roller skates and clean the house Tootie style. Did you recognize Helen Hunt from Mad about You fame?

For some really impressive moves on roller skates click here.

I was a kid in the 70’s and although I don’t miss the rabbit ears on my parents TV, getting up to change one of our 5 channels or polyester pants and shirts with starched collars, I do miss a few things. Here are five of the things I miss most from the 1970’s.

Marathon Bars

Whenever I got a chance and a few coins in my pocket I’d get on my bike and ride to the nearest corner store to pick up this delectable candy treat. These days, I’d have to go to the United Kingdom or Australia for a Curly Wurly which has the same braided chocolate caramel but I’d miss the cool ruler on the side of the wrapper.

The Marathon Bar I’m talking about should not be confused with the Marathon Bar that is what’s now named Snickers. Love the Mork suspenders on this UK ad for Snickers when it was called Marathon.

Gum Without Artificial Sweeteners

My favorite gum was always Fruit Stripe. The sweet burst of flavor, the bright striped colors, and of course the cute zebra, made this the perfect gum for kids. Luckily you can still chew Fruit Stripe and it’s really one of the only gums that doesn’t have an artificial sweetener. Next time you stand at the check out line browse through the gum ingredients and even if you see sugar on the label you most likely will find phenalynaline, sucralose or aspartame.

I know Jack LaLanne would say no to gum all together but I say no to gum with artificial ingredients. It’s a start anyway.

Glass Coca Cola Bottles

Alright I know first sugar in gum and now sugar in Coca Cola. The sugar is the least of my worries, ever since my first taste of Sweet Tea I’ve loved that bold caffeine flavor, not to mention the slightly hyper effect it gives me.

There was something so wonderful about carrying around a big glass Coca Cola bottle, especially on a hot summer day. I consumed enough of these to stunt my growth at least a couple inches.

I saw the old school bottles being sold at Costco but they were imports from Mexico made with pure cane sugar and were very expensive. What the world needs now is Coke in a glass bottle, and more apple trees and honey bees.

Rollerskate Rinks

Oh how I loved my roller skates. I’m not a great roller skater now but I could roll with the best of them back in the day. I watched The Facts of Life just so I could live vicariously through Tootie being allowed to skate inside the house. Check out this great 8mm clip from YouTube user alecwally23. His sister made it in the 70’s for a class project in high school.

Disco

Ahh how I loved doing the hustle in my bedroom lip synching to my K-Tel records. I really believed I would grow up to disco the night away at Studio 54 with the Solid Gold dancers and Miss Piggy. Unfortunately by the time I was 18 disco was dead and I couldn’t afford a ticket to NY anyway. Instead I was in Tijuana, Mexico dancing to Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam.

For those of you who don’t think you can dance disco, feel free to practice at home along with this video: