I never would have imagined, that during the 1970s, Lawrence superintendent Randy Weseman was a Grateful Dead fan. He attended concerts, made friends in the band and went backstage. He even has leftover tie-dye in his closet. Then again, I can’t believe my mom, who graduated from high school in 1977, wore platform shoes and bell-bottom jeans, and “lived” just to get inside the discos to dance. These are just two examples of the passions of the 1970s, which you also can see on VH1’s new program, “I Love the ’70s.”

The early ’70s seemed to carry over from the late ’60s in some ways. But by the mid- to late-’70s, this era was definitely making its own way and a name for itself! The ’70s continues to have its fans.

From Ouija boards to Clackers, the fads also ranged from Shrinky Dinks to hacky sacks. The music mix included Kiss, Elton John, Earth Wind and Fire, Pink Floyd, The Bee Gees and The Clash. The collections covered rock ‘n’ roll, soul, disco and on into punk. Fashion began with hot pants and platform shoes, and then cruised by with leisure suits. In the end, black leather had made another comeback.

Popular TV shows in the ’70s included “Soul Train,” “All in the Family,” “Kojak,” “Taxi,” “Welcome Back, Kotter,” “W.K.R.P in Cincinnati” and “Saturday Night Live.” Movie fans lined up to see “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory,” “The Godfather,” “Deliverance,” “The Exorcist,” “Jaws” and “Star Wars,” to name just a few.

Leading events that took place during the 1970s were the end of the Vietnam War, women’s liberation, Muhammad Ali vs. George Foreman, the kidnapping of Patty Hearst, the bicentennial and the New York blackout featuring the Son of Sam.

Weseman spoke about nostalgia and the idea that someday I would talk with my own kids about 2000-2009 and how ridiculous many things will seem by then.

“The movie ‘Saturday Night Fever’ with John Travolta and his tight pants and dance moves — who wouldn’t laugh at that now?” he said, pointing his finger at the ceiling Travolta-style.

Weseman said when he started teaching at Lawrence High he had long hair and a beard. He spoke fondly about teaching during the late ’70s and his connection with kids, music and Lawrence.

The style: The platform shoe, dangerous when worn with bell-bottoms; embroidered denim and tie-dye.

I think that people who were influenced by the 1970s have a lot to offer kids my age. I guess my mom was thinking this when she bought my copy of “Dark Side of the Moon.” Now I get a chance to listen to this and share something in common with some of the ’70s generation.