Seeing as how this is the first post on this blog, some might wonder why it's even in existence.
It came about because I think a blog like this is needed. Today's world is rush, rush, rush, filled with instant mail, instant cash, instant pictures. Instant everything.
It's all so now.
But sometimes I just wanna stop, take a breath, and reflect, ya know.
That's when I think about not the now, but about the then.
When was then?
Then was in the days of paper letter writing, talking on a rotary dial phone, listening to music via our 45's or 33 records. The days of black and white television, and having to walk to the TV to change channels.
It was when you ran barefoot, waited till dark to bust outside and catch lightning bugs, or read the Montgomery Ward or Sears and Roebuck catalog.
A catalog you held in your hands. A paper catalog. A catalog delivered from the mail carrier.
Then was a time of no air conditioning and you kept cool by folding a piece of school paper into a fan.
Then was a time when a carton of school milk cost two cents.
Then was when you had a porch swing, and in the evenings, after eating supper and washing the dishes, you sat in it and watched the night sky and marveled at the beauty of the stars.
Then was a time of taking time to enjoy the little things.
It was a time of wonder, of hope, of innocence.
And if you're like me and think it's past time, now, to recall the more simpler life, share those things that mattered to you back when it was "then".
*****
Miranda Lambert even enjoys the "then".
10 comments:
The date was May 6, 1947 and Mom threw a surprise ninth birthday party. There were 22 there counting me. As I walked up the driveway I could hear and see a bunch of kids in our house. I pretended like it was a surprise. Mom took two photos of us that day. She was very perceptive in that I had a crush on three of the girls at one time or another who were in attendance. Ages ranged from cousin Mary Lou who was six years older than me and Smokey who was several years younger than me. A precious memory, photo and day for me I'll always cherish.
That sounds wonderful, Larry. Thanks for sharing this loving memory of your mom. :)
I remember how excited I was when the city launched a new bus service. For just a quarter, my friends and I could travel all over the city. We were 15. It was 1976. Before the buses we walked everywhere. We didn't depend on our parents to drive us around. The streets were safe, even at night, and the buses were on time.
@Marianne Sciucco, that new service (for just a quarter!), must've seemed like freedom for young girls. :) Thanks for sharing the memory!
Ah, nostalgia is good for the soul. First thing I thought of was meeting friends after school at the Palace, a greasy spoon. I loved chocolate milk and potato chips with ketchup. Hmm that sounds good. Wish I had some right now. But it'll never taste as good as when I snacked on them at the Palace.
@J.Q.Rose, I wonder why everything always tasted better when we were younger? Chocolate milk always was (and is) my favorite too!
Sleigh riding in the dark seems dangerous. It must have been in the late forties or early fifties when I caught Mom and Dad at a weak moment. Can I go sleigh riding tonight? They said yes. The moon was shining and I took my sled up to the school house which was located on a hill visible from our driveway. The road was covered with almost pure ice on top of the snow. Down I went enjoying the cold wind in my face and the speed. At the bottom of this hill from the school house was a sharp right hand turn. You had to take it on the inside to make it without going into the left ditch. A short level stretch brought me to another hill toward our house. Now I could go straight into our driveway but no, I made the sharp left turn and headed down another hill toward our barn. It was there that I could see the icy runner trails of my previous runs showing plainly in the moonlight. It was a time in my life that all I had to worry about was making those curves and making my way back to the top at the school again.
Wow, @LarryHammersley, that sounds dangerous! You were one brave boy, but I bet it was fun too. :)
Thanks for sharing such a great memory!
Ahh, yes, chocolate milk. I walked to school which was at the top of my sleigh ride hill. Before Mom became cook for the school I would run home for lunch. She mixed up chocolate syrup in a glass of white milk. She sure knew the right amount of syrup to add. From the school house backyard I would jump the fence and run down through Wendell's pasture and climbed another fence that bordered our driveway and then enjoyed the chocolate milk and pinto beans.
You were an adventuresome lad, @LarryHammersley, and what a great mom to serve up your chocolate milk. :)
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