Here are some fun facts about our high school years (1982-1986)

In the news in 1986

-In January, America watches in horror as the Space Shuttle Challenger bursts into flame shortly after take-off, killing 37 year old school teacher Christa McAuliffe and six other crew members.

-Over 5,000,000 people from New York City to Long Beach CA form a human chain called Hands Across America to raise money for hunger and homelessness

-In April, one of the world's worst nuclear disasters in history occurs at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

-Oliver North and John Poindexter are both implicated in a Contra operation

 In Sports…

-Cal Ripken, Jr’s consecutive games played streak begins (1982)

-The Orioles defeat the Phillies to win the World Series (1983)

-Los Angeles hosts the 1984 Summer Olympics – Fan favorite US medalists include Carl Lewis and Mary Lou Retton (1984)

-Nike releases a new brand – Air Jordan (1985)

-Red Sox first baseman Bill Buckner’s error sends the World Series to a Game Seven where they would eventually lose the series to the New York Mets. (1986)

-University of MD basketball star Len Bias collapses and dies from a cocaine overdose just two days after being drafted by the Boston Celtics. (1986)

-William “The Refrigerator” Perry and the Chicago Bears do the Super Bowl Shuffle as they defeat the New England Patriots 46-10 in Super Bowl XX (1986)

 Top TV shows from '82-'86

The Cosby Show, Family Ties, Cheers, Growing Pains, Cheers, Dynasty, 60 Minutes, Dallas, The A Team, Magnum P.I., Simon & Simon

Famous People born in 1986

Actresses Lindsay Lohan and Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, Singers Lay Gaga and Kellie Pickler, Olympic sprinter Usain Bolt, American Snowboarder Shawn White

 Famous Class of 86'ers

Cuba Goodling, Jr., LL Cool J, Sarah McLachlan, Lisa Marie Presley, Molly Ringwald, Celine Dion, Ashley Judd, Tony Hawk, Kylie Minogue, Debra Messing, Rachael Ray, Jack Black, Will Smith, Hugh Jackman, Owen Wilson, Mike Piazza, Mike Mussina

 Famous people who died in 1986

Actress Donna Reed and actors Desi Arnaz, Cary Grant, Ted Knight and James Cagney

 What things cost us back in 1986

Average cost of a new home: $89,900

Median household income: $23,897

Cost of a first class stamp.  22 cents

Cost of a gallon of regular gas- 89 cents per gallon!

Cost of a gallon of milk: $2.22

Average price of a new car- $9200.00

 Some top songs from '82-'86

Open Arms – Journey (1982), Maneater – Hall & Oates (1982), Beat It – Michael Jackson (1983), Down Under – Men At Work (1983), Africa – Toto (1983), Owner of a Lonely Heart – Yes (1984), Ghostbusters – Ray Parker, Jr. (1984), Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go -  Wham! (1984), Let’s Hear It For The Boy – Deniece Williams (1984),  Shout – Tears For Fears (1985), Loverboy – Billy Ocean (1985), St Elmo’s Fire (Man In Motion) – John Parr (1985), Danger Zone – Kenny Loggins (1986), Walk Like An Egyptian- Bangles (1986), Addicted To Love – Robert Palmer (1986), Kyrie- Mister Mister (1986), Sara- Starship (1986), Song of The Year: “That’s What Friends Are For” (1986)

 Top Box Office Hits from 82-86

E.T. (1982), Return of The Jedi (1983), Terms of Endearment (1983), Beverly Hills Cop (1984),  Ghostbusters (1984), Gremlins (1984), Back To The Future (1985), Top Gun (1986), Platoon (1986), Crocodile Dundee (1986)

Movies about high school reunions..

Did you know? The 2010 movie Hot Tub Time Machine featured a time traveling hot tub that took a few friends back to the year 1986. The 1997 movie Romy & Michelle’s High School Reunion was about two 28 year old women going back to their high school; roughly the years 1986 or 1987.

 80's Fashion

Acid wash jeans, parachute pants, Jams shorts, OP (Ocean Pacific), Izod, Benetton, Guess jeans, square knitted ties, Rolling up jeans at the bottom, Vans, Docksiders/Top siders, Reebok, Nike, Converse Chucks, Jellies, Flats, high top sneakers, oversized sweaters, Members Only jackets, Swatch watches, banana hair clips,  Stirrup pants, fingerless “Madonna” gloves, spandex, leg warmers, tops with shoulder pads, Rayban sunglasses, Zinka colored sunscreen

 Pop Culture

Arcades with games such as Galaga, Pac Man, Q Bert, Centipede, Ms. Pac Man, Frogger. Break Dancing, Wrestlemania, Valley Girls – “Fer Shur”, “Gag Me With A Spoon”, “Grody To The Max”, Pee Wee Herman, Care Bears, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Baby On Board Sign, Rubik’s Cube, Trivial Pursuit, Max Headroom, Pound Puppies,  “Where’s The Beef?”

-The Dodge Caravan is introduced in 1984 marking a new era of the “minivan”.

-Microsoft releases its first version of Windows, Windows 1.0. IBM unveils the PC Convertible, the first laptop computer. The 386 series of microprocessor is introduced by Intel

Slang Terms from the 80s

Yuppy, tubular, rad, totally, to the max, psyche, preppie, lame, have a cow, gnarly, dweeb, chillin, ditz, cheesy, boink, bogus, bodacious, bad, awesome