Flashback: September 14, 1982

Cue the DeLorean

On September 14, 1982, we were deep into sophomore year of high school, or maybe starting our freshman year of college if you were one of the lucky older GenXers.

Ronald Reagan was in the White House talking tough about the Cold War, but honestly, we were more concerned about whether our Walkmans had enough battery life to get through geometry class.

This was peak early-80s magic…before MTV got weird, before anyone had heard the word "internet," and when the biggest decision we faced was whether to tape that new song off the radio or wait to buy the 45.

The mall was our kingdom, John Hughes was about to become our prophet, and we had no idea we were living through what would become the most nostalgic decade in American history.

So grab your Tab cola and your leg warmers…we're heading back to a time when big hair wasn't ironic and synthesizers ruled the world.

This Mixtape Memory Lane is sponsored by 50 Ways to Keep Your Lover.

Mixtape Memory Lane 

Here's what was dominating the airwaves the week of September 14, 1982:

🎧 “Hard to Say I’m Sorry” – Chicago

Peter Cetera’s vocals turned this into one of the ultimate roller-rink slow dance anthems. With nine weeks at No. 1, it gave teens everywhere permission to feel heartbreak with full cinematic flair.

🎧 “Abracadabra” – Steve Miller Band

A strange mix of rock and disco shimmer, it was catchy in a hypnotic way. You didn’t always know what Steve Miller meant, but you sang along anyway.

🎧 “Eye of the Tiger” – Survivor

Blasting from radios after Rocky III, this was the soundtrack of determination. It could turn mowing the lawn into training for the heavyweight championship.

🎧 “Jack & Diane” – John Cougar

A bittersweet anthem about growing up too fast. Its hand-clap break became an instant cue for singalongs, reminding us that even small-town love stories could feel epic.

🎧 “Hold Me” – Fleetwood Mac

Christine McVie and Stevie Nicks gave us harmonies that melted into pop perfection. It wasn’t moody like Rumours, but it proved Fleetwood Mac still had the magic.

👆 Watch the full throwback video playlist on YouTube Music.

Screen Time Rewind 

At the theater, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial ruled everything, showing us friendship could transcend galaxies and making Reese’s Pieces a household name.

Fast Times at Ridgemont High brought high school chaos to the big screen, with Sean Penn’s Spicoli becoming the unlikely spirit animal of every underachiever.

Meanwhile, An Officer and a Gentleman gave us a uniformed love story that had audiences swooning, right up to that unforgettable factory-floor finale.

On TV, Cheers had just debuted, promising that sometimes you really do want to go where everybody knows your name.

Dynasty and Dallas kept prime time dripping in excess, with bigger hair, bigger shoulder pads, and even bigger betrayals.

And daytime belonged to General Hospital, still soaring from the Luke and Laura frenzy that had captivated millions.

For kids, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe was about to drop its first full season, making playgrounds echo with “I have the power!” long before the action figures took over toy shelves.

This Life Reboot is sponsored by La’Merde Designs apparel.

Life Reboot: Soul

The Stories We Tell

In 1982, legacies weren’t curated online or preserved in digital clouds. They lived in the stories told around kitchen tables, on long car rides, or whispered during late-night sleepovers. Stories shaped how we understood who we were, where we came from, and what mattered.

Not every story was easy, though. Some were about mistakes, losses, or painful chapters we’d rather forget. But even those carried lessons. The truth is, legacy isn’t just about passing down the highlight reel…it’s about choosing which experiences, values, and insights you want to echo forward.

For many of us, the good stories are obvious: the triumphs, the hilarious mishaps, the moments of connection that still make us smile. These deserve to be written down, recorded, or retold, so they don’t vanish when memory fades.

But the hard stories matter too. They remind us what not to repeat, how to handle storms, and why compassion matters. Preserving the lessons from our struggles can be just as valuable as celebrating our wins. Both shape the narrative of who we are and what we leave behind.

This week’s challenge: Reboot how you think about legacy. Take ten minutes to capture one story — good or bad — in writing, audio, or even a quick video. Share it with someone you trust, or tuck it away for the future. Legacy isn’t about perfection…it’s about honesty, meaning, and giving the next generation something real to hold onto.

Visual Feature is sponsored by Practical Advice from the Scriptures.

Visual Feature: Then vs. Now

In September 1982, USA Today hit newsstands for the first time. With splashy color photos, bite-sized stories, and glossy graphics, it reinvented how America consumed the news. For a generation raised on black-and-white papers and long-form print, it was a shock…and a glimpse of the future.

Fast forward to today, and that future looks very different. News rarely waits for a front page. Instead, it comes as a buzz in your pocket, a push alert on your lock screen, or a trending hashtag that burns hot for hours before vanishing. The pace has changed, but the hunger for headlines hasn’t.

Life Reboot is sponsored by La’Merde Designs.

Mixtape Memory Lane is sponsored by 50 Ways to Keep Your Lover.

Visual Feature is sponsored by Practical Advice from the Scriptures.

Thanks for Coming Along for the Ride

That’s our rewind to September 1982…a moment when Chicago gave us slow-dance soundtracks, Spicoli defined slacker cool, and Saturday mornings were ruled by cartoons and cereal. It was a time when the little things like music, movies, and the stories we told shaped how we saw ourselves and the world.

So as you head into this week, think about the stories you’re keeping, the ones you’re sharing, and the ones you still need to tell. Legacy doesn’t have to be grand. It can be as simple as passing along a laugh, a lesson, or a memory that sticks.

See you next week for another trip through memories and meaning. Until then, in the words of Spicoli himself:

“All I need are some tasty waves, a cool buzz, and I’m fine.”