Things I Miss From Childhood

At 53, I know I am not THAT old. But time does march on and lately I have had some yearnings for "the good old days."

It's not that I want to revert back in time. I love being in the present. We have magical technology that links the world through fingertips. I can take photos and videos on my cell phone. Exploring the world through travel is so much easier and accessible. Dishwashers and microwaves have made my life much more manageable. I love the here and now.

But it might be fun to recover a few items that have been lost in all the progress.

Drive-In Movies. I remember piling into the car as a child. Ma would get us into our pj's, pop some corn for a snack and make a jug of Koolade. Dad would fumble with the speaker box, mumbling a few choice words under his breath before finally settling down to the movie. With our pillows and blankets making us all snugly, we would be fast asleep even before the feature film was presented. When I started dating, going to the drive-in was an excuse for a make-out session. I'm certain that drive-in movies contributed to more than a few surprise pregnancies. Maybe that's why most of them have been torn down.

Soda in glass bottles. Something about soda in bottles that tastes much fresher and colder.

Rotary phones and party lines. There was just something very soothing about placing your index finger into the dial and having the satisfying sound of the return rotation. Though today's push buttons give you much quicker dialing speed, I am sure that I now dial more wrong numbers. As for party lines, I loved sharing a phone line with the neighbors. The telephone had a distinct ring for each household. It was like receiving a prize when your ring came up. Not only that, but I could eavesdrop on another conversation. This is not something I'm proud of and I certainly wouldn't want anyone listening in on my conversation. Just a guilty pleasure as a child.

Full service gas stations. It's rare to find a station attendant that will pump your gas, let alone check your oil or wash your windows. I have reluctantly become accustomed to pumping my own gas but it sure would be nice to not have to do it on cold or rainy days.

Milk delivered to your door. I remember our Hood delivery man. His name was "Red" and he was a cheerful, friendly guy who sometimes slipped us kids an ice cream on hot days. Red never let us run out of milk, butter, eggs or bread. Nowadays, I will make two or three separate trips to the grocery store because I have forgotten to pick up the milk or bread or eggs or butter. Red, where are you when I need you today?

Woolworth's. In case you don't know about Woolworth's, it was a store. But not just any store. It carried a wide variety of items from penny candy to shoes to hardware to kitchen towels. Just about everything and all very cheap. But Woolworth's, to me, was more than just a store. I'd spend hours roaming around with my friends, trying on clothes, buying little trinkets and having a relaxed, fun time. When we got tired of shopping for nothing, we'd have a seat at the store's diner where you could sit on a stool and order the world's best grilled cheese sandwiches, french fries, and chocolate shakes. If I close my eyes, I can still hear the creak of the old, wide plank wood floors and smell the odd combination of mustiness, mothballs and grease that welcomed all who entered Woolworth's.

I'm really not sure what brought on this wave of nostalgia. In any event, a trip down memory lane and a visit to "Happy Days" was fun!

Truman's Response

Dear Linda

I just read your blog. Very amusing to YOU, I'm sure. However, have you ever considered how I might like being in your shoes every now and then? Here are my top 5 reasons why I would like to be you:

5. You can talk to your friends anytime you want. If you should meet up with a friend on the street, you can take all the time in the world to catch up while I sit by, patiently waiting. On the other hand, whenever I spy a friend, I am allowed only the briefest of "Hello" sniffs and I am interrupted mid-greeting. How's a fella supposed to score a doggie play date?

4. You don't have to wear embarrassing outfits for "special occasions". I hate that Halloween pumpkin costume and even the fancy bandannas are itchy and drive me crazy. I am the laughing stock of the neighborhood and heard through the grapevine that I have been nominated for "What Not To Wear." I am a dog. Please stop dressing me like a human.

3. You don't have to do stupid tricks to get a cookie. I see you going into the kitchen and stuff a treat into your mouth when you think no one is looking. Did you have to "Speak" or "Roll over" to get it? I think not.

2. You can eat whenever and whatever you wish. Once again food comes into play. This is very important to me, as you well know. I get fed at the same time twice each day and the menu never changes much. How lucky you are to have choices and to be able to eat when you are hungry, not just at certain times. [If you feel at all guilty about this, maybe you could slip me some of tonight's chicken? Aw, come on.]

1. Your bathroom habits are kept private. Once again, I am at your mercy. How would you like someone saying, "Hurry up" when you're trying to do your business? Not only that but, try as I might to walk as far from you as possible (I am modest, you know), you are always standing within leash-length, waiting. Talk about pressure. Can you say "performance anxiety"?

While I am certain that there are many aspects of my life that are enviable, you don't have it so bad, either. I own some great people who love and pamper me. Life is good.

Woof! Truman

Old Things Through New Eyes

Sometimes it's a good thing to see things from anothers perspective.

Some friends from Scotland recently came for a visit. Barbara and Campbell spent a week living at my home and enjoyed an easy-going vacation. I always treasure the time we spend together for many reasons but it also helps me to recognize the importance of so many things that I sometimes take for granted.

Because I had to work during the day, I was unable to accompany them or provide them with a tour of the sights. This may have been a good thing. I have a tendency to plan every detail of a vacation and am sure I would have insisted on taking in museums and seeing many historical landmarks. Because they were left to their own, every evening I found myself anxious to hear all about their days adventures.

Barbara and Campbell discovered ways to explore and entertain themselves while I was at work. Choosing not to rent a car, they found pleasure in taking the train into Boston and simply walking around. They had no agenda and weren't always sure exactly where they were or what they would find there. It was refreshing to hear them talk about endless hours of strolling the streets of Boston, popping into various shops to uncover new and unexpected treasures. When they needed a break, they simply walked into the nearest bar (they always called them "pubs" which make them sound so much more interesting) for a pint and a bite to eat. No museums, no scurrying from one place to get to the next, no rush or worries.

I was worried that they would find themselves bored just hanging around my house with nothing to do. I shouldn't have. On the days that they did not go into Boston, they walked for miles all about my little town. One day they set off for the local Walmart, about 2.5 miles way. On their walk, they stopped to have tea at a Friendly's, chatting up the waitress and laughingly getting a "pensioner's discount". At Walmart, they spent hours just drifting around, taking in the wide range of selections and marvelling at the bargain prices. The return walk found them at the Ninety-Nine for an afternoon cocktail before ambling back to the house with their purchases.

On another day at home, they walked in the opposite direction, ending almost 4 miles up Main Street at a large grocery store and strip mall. Demoulas, Home Goods and Picadilly Pub featured prominently in their tales of adventures for the day's outing.

After every outing, Barbara and Campbell delighted in displaying their purchases and were thrilled with the bargains they got. I take for granted just how comparatively inexpensive things are here. Time and time again, they pointed out that they would pay twice as much for a product.

They took the time to see everything and take in all the details that I would normally just ignore, things that I had just taken for granted. They had enthusiasm in their voices when they talked about all the places they had visited during the day. These are places that I pass by every day in my busy life and never take the time to give a second thought.

So, thank you, dear Barbara and Campbell, for helping me to realize that I need to slow down and see things that I don't usually even give a second thought to. I need to recognize that a simple walk can hold an adventure instead of a means of exercise. Thank you for helping me to recognize that I am, indeed, a very lucky person.

Other things I take for granted that my friends found special:

• Hershey Kisses
• Zippered storage bags
• Mr. Clean Magic Eraser
• Target
• Dunkin' Donuts
• Mottos on license plates
• Police logs in the local newspaper
• Christmas Tree Shop
  

Fashion Issues

Am I the only one who is bothered by the following fashion trends?

• Big, baggy pants that hang below the butt, often with boxers waving in the breeze? I know this has been a trend for quite some time now. I just don't get it. Whenever I have questioned a devotee of this trend, they tell me it's more comfortable than "rear riders" (or "butt huggers" or "wedgie wear"). I'm not buyin' it. Ever seen one of these fashonistas walking down the street? Either they are clutching onto the waistband or striding with legs wide-apart. Yup, that looks comfortable.
• Sweatpants or sweatshorts with something written across the backside. It started with "BUM" sportswear and has gone downhill since then. All this does is emphasize someones biggest (and in many cases, I mean BIGGEST) asset. Even the tiniest woman looks like she has extra junk in her trunk. This is not a good look.
• Women over the age of 24 with vibrantly colored streaks in their hair. I'm not talking about honey-blond or golden highlights. I'm talking about colors that are not found in nature. Brilliant reds, neon-blues, putrid purples. Wash it out. You look stupid. While we're at it, how about those women who add those copper-ish tones? Copper is not a hair color. It's for pennies.
• Tight, tight, skin-tight tops. Usually these are worn by women who sport fuller figures. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against women who have a little extra meat on their bones. I just don't like having all that extra falling, rolling or hanging out for everyone to ogle. Then there's the issue of keeping the top in place. I've noticed way too much time spent pulling and tugging. What is the point?
• Crocs. OK, this is where I'm going to get it. Sorry, but those ridiculous-looking rubber shoes should only be worn by... gosh, I can't even think of who should wear them. They are not cute. ...the little buttons that can be purchased to dress them up are not helping. These "shoes" (I use this term lightly) were made for gardening. That's where they belong. Buried in the garden. [I should probably take my own "hit" for wearing Teva sandals (also known as "Jesus sandals). They are ugly, I admit it. I'm addicted to their comfort.]

Gosh, I sound crotchety. Must be getting older.