I’m a big calendar girl (as in I love calendars not that I’ve been in one!) and thoroughly enjoy getting a new calendar for an upcoming year. I do so every fall and love filling in all the birthdays, events, and holidays. Interestingly enough, did you know 2024’s calendar is exactly the same as that of 1996? I guess you could reuse the 1996 version, but who has one laying around? Not even me! But, just for fun, let’s compare the two years.
Both years were leap years with the new year starting on a Monday.
And, it’s no secret that this year is a (huge) election year and so was 1996. But, let’s not go there.
Instead…
Both years are also Olympic years. Paris will host the 2024 games while in 1996 they were in Atlanta. What I remember most about the 1996 games was the “Magnificent Seven,” the women’s gymnastics team that won the team gold medal. As amazing as that feat was, what most people remember is Kerri Strug.
With the USA in the hunt for the team gold medal but with only a narrow lead over Russia and Romania going into the final rotation, Strug, a vault specialist, landed poorly on her first attempt, injuring her left ankle. Strug hobbled to her the final vault, landed, hopped slightly on her one good leg, scoring a 9.712 and clinching the gold medal for the US.
American women also captured team gold medals in basketball, soccer, and softball, helping the host nation lead the medal table for the first time at a non-boycotted games since 1968, and US swim teams captured a pool-full of medals.
Track and Field had its own star in Michael Johnson of the U.S. Michael Johnson of the U.S. who swept the 200 and 400 — shattering the 200-world record with a time (19.32) that would stand for more than a dozen years. American Carl Lewis wrapped up his brilliant Olympic career with a fourth straight gold in the long jump.
It all started with swimmer Janet Evans and Muhammad Ali lighting the Olympic torch to commence the games. After Ali’s death in 2016, two banners flanked his coffin at his funeral service: the American flag. and the Olympic flag.
Sadly, the games were also known for tragedy when an explosion rocked Centennial Olympic Park
Pop culture wise, “Home Improvement,” “Friends,” and “Seinfeld” were the popular TV shows of the time and photos of their casts were also popular calendar subjects. How TV viewing has changed in the 28 years that have passed.
On the big screen Tom Cruise was everywhere…including in calendars…as both “Mission Impossible” and “Jerry McGuire” were released that year. Who can ever forget “Show me the money?” and whose heart didn’t melt at “You had me at hello?” Other screen toppers were “Independence Day,” “The English Patient,” and “Happy Gilmore.” Quite the range of subject matters!
In the world of music, country was hot thanks to George Strait, Reba McEntire, Brooks & Dunn, and my favorite, Mary Chapin Carpenter. On the pop and rock side, “One Headlight” by the Wallflowers was my fave and still one as is Jewel’s “You Were Meant for Me.” Tracy Chapman had hits as did Alanis Morissette with her ironic “Ironic” but what really got everyone dancing was the catchy “Macarena.” You’re doing the dance in your head right now aren’t you?!
I’m well aware that actual calendars are becoming as rare as good TV sitcoms, but thankfully they are still out there. Each year I purchase MD Anderson Cancer Center’s Children’s Art Project wall calender that includes artwork from young patients for each month. It’s my go-to calendar, I don’t actually hang it on a wall but keep it on my desk, and to ensure I have dates and events literally at my fingertips, I have a photo file on my phone of each month’s page. Yes, I have to take a new photo and update the album each time I add something to a month, but the process works for me. I tried using the phone calendar and hated it. I don’t like having two or more calendars and opt for my old-school one for everything.
I’ve always loved calendars. Back in my “former life” when I had a plethora of work items I had to schedule, balance, and jot down, I loved my Franklin Planner. It seemed like it was made just for me and my planning personality. I liked it way better than Filofax or other brands, and would probably still be using one today if I needed to.
If you do happen to have an old 1996 calendar, you could possibly make a profit off one as they are proving popular online items to buy. Or, just hold onto this year’s calendar until 2052, which is the next year the calendars will be exactly the same.
Beyond Words 