The Good Old Days
"I wish there was a way to know you're in the good old days before you've actually left them."
― Andy Bernard
I am so old that when I think back to those so-called good old days, I wonder how any of us survived.
But you know what, I think we all had it pretty good.
We had adventures and some freedom.
We didn't have car seats for the little ones or seat belts. To this day, I still remember my mom throwing her arm across me when she would have to make a sudden stop. She even did it when I was older. Old habits, I guess. But the safety that today's seat belts and car seats offer has undoubtedly saved lives.
Kids rode bikes and didn't wear a helmet. And yes, they lived to tell about it.
Remember the fun of running through the sprinkler on hot summer days? You still might see a few kids enjoying a good run through the sprinkler on a hot day.
Kids could play outside all day, moving from one friend's house to another—a form of being free-range kids. Life was much more relaxed.
Kids didn't have to go inside to get a water bottle; they drank from the garden hose.
Kids were allowed to ride in the back of a pickup truck. And it was awesome.
Today's kids don't know the joy of a trip to the Video Store to pick out a movie. And don't forget to rewind that tape and get it back on time.
We enjoyed eating our bowl of Frosted Flakes while watching Saturday morning cartoons. Saturday mornings were special.
In the olden days, we needed a TV Guide to find out what shows were on and what time and channel.
We didn't have the most used phone numbers on our phones. We had them written in a phone book and listed alphabetically. We had to dial the phone.
We couldn't just google when we needed some information. We had to pick up a heavy book called an encyclopedia and find what we needed.
Families used to gather around the television every evening. We had some great series: Westerns, funny comedies, and variety shows. Yes, we watched television as a family. And we didn't have cable or streaming. We had a limited amount of channels to watch.
Bell bottom jeans were the fashion statement of the day in the late '60s and early '70s.
I have fond memories of the days before cell phones. We had in-person conversations. And no texting. And a real luxury was having a long phone cord so you could move around while on the phone.
Kids today most likely have not gone to a drive-in movie. Parents could toss a couple of pillows and a blanket in the back seat, and with the kids in their PJs off to the drive-in, they would go. Today, you never have to leave your house. Modern technology allows you to watch anything at any time. What is the fun of that?
Hardly anyone writes letters anymore. No more waiting anxiously for the mailman to see if you had a letter from your best friend or maybe you had a pen pal. Now it's call, text, or email. It's kind of sad.
Very few Sunday dinners with family anymore. It seems that families mostly get together at funerals and holidays. I say bring back Sunday visits with family.
Shopping and lunch at the mall are almost a thing of the past. Malls are no longer the place to go. We sit at home and do our shopping online. I miss the days of lunch out with friends while shopping.
Is it just me, or does life feel like everything is scheduled ahead of time in today's world? No more being spontaneous and calling a friend in the morning to make plans for that afternoon. That's not a thing anymore. Everyone has to check their calendar.
Paying bills meant writing out a check and then mailing it off, hoping it arrived on time. Or heaven forbid we stood in line and paid that bill. Of course, you guessed it; today, we schedule our bills directly from our bank account.
We no longer use much cash; we do everything with a plastic card.
Kids played outside and used their imagination. They rode their bikes and played tag and hide and seek. Today they are signed up for every sport and activity available. They play video games and stare at computer screens in their free time.
When the street lights came on, it was time for the kids to head home.
Kids used to build forts out of anything they could find. Plywood, tree branches, whatever they could scrounge up.
We got all our news from the daily newspaper or nightly news on television. We were not constantly bombarded every minute of the day by every little thing happening in the world.
I am so old I remember spending most of my money at the record stores. Does anyone else remember Harmony House? The good old days of vinyl records.
And let's not forget the sound of the ice cream truck. Hearing the bell of the ice cream truck sent us running to ask for money for our favorite ice cream treat.
Despite all the technology and new laws and regulations, I still think the good old days were some of the best. Today, with all our modern conveniences, we seem busier than ever.
"Sometimes you don't realize how good the good old days were until they're gone." — Unknown