A Stroll Down Memory Lane

I have recently read some posts and stories about the past, and of course it always gets me to thinking.  I miss the old days - I really do.  I know many things are so much easier today, but there are many things missing from the old days.
We had a complete sense of safety.  Kids played outside and roamed the neighborhood and no one was really worried.  Granted, everyone's parents kept an eye open for everyone else's kids - but there was such freedom to roam and play.  We never locked our doors.  We never worried about someone bothering our property.  There was just a total feeling of safety.
We all looked out for each other and if someone was in need - there was always someone there to help.

I remember so much about being a 50's/60's child.  It was a time of new items hitting the market.  It was a time of limited TV.  It was a time when family was everything.  It was a time of innocence.  It was some of the best memories of my life!

I remember on Friday night (every Friday) Mom made hamburgers and homemade French Fries.  If for some reason we didn't have potatoes - we had baked beans.  I always looked forward to that night.
We had BIG Sunday dinners at noon, every Sunday.  Odds were that it was never just Mom and Dad and me.  There was always family - brothers & sisters, aunts & uncles, cousins - who ever showed up.  Somehow there was always enough! (Truth be - Mom just did without so everyone could eat).

There were always homemade cookies in the cookie jar.  My favorites were big iced sugar cookies or oatmeal cookies.  Mom always made her own pies and cakes.  My favorites were pineapple upside down cake and cherry pie.  She made donuts, eclairs (oh my), and potato chips!
Favorites for meals were meatloaf and mashed potatoes, beef Manhattan's (still a favorite).  Momma made the absolute best 'meat pie' on the planet!!!!!  I have tried many times and they sure don't taste like hers did. (mine are good - but not like hers).

I can remember  how maybe once a year we got a canned ham!  I thought that was fantastic.  It was a big deal.  Remember how you had to roll the key around the outer edge to open?

Spam was also one of those things I looked forward to, because it was different.  It didn't come in our house often, as Mom only bought what was absolutely needed - but if Daddy had any say about it, we got a can of Spam once in a while.  He liked it with breakfast.  Did you know that Spam was originally called 'Spiced Ham' in the late 30's?  The name was shortened to Spam.  Funny, I still enjoy this every now and then.

Every big family get together or holiday had some sort of Jello salad on the menu.  I remember grandma always made a green Jello with shredded carrots and cottage cheese.  YUK.  I always dreaded that!  Jello was just coming to light in the market - and it was a great and inexpensive way to stretch food.  It became very popular and it seems there was NO LIMIT to the horrors of how to serve it!!  I must admit I really do like Jello today and I do make a creamy fruit and nut Jello salad around the holidays.  A family favorite.  But so many of those salads looked and sounded so gross! (to me).

I always wanted Mom to buy TV dinners - they just sounded exciting to my child brain!  I knew some of my friends had them at their houses.  I always got a big NO.  I didn't have anything like a TV dinner until I was grown.  I look back now and realize that our food we ate was sooooo much better - but as a kid they sounded exciting.  I always wanted Lipton dry chicken noodle soup as well.  I would beg at the grocery store for Mom to get a package of this.  Once in a great while she would cave and I would get some.  How exotic I thought that was!

I remember TV was very limited and black and white.  I think the first TV came in our home when I was very, very little.  I remember Saturday morning cartoons - the GOOD ones, and there was Captain Kangaroo every morning.  We always had to watch Lawrence Welk and Daddy had to watch wrestling every weekend.  Sometimes we got to eat in the living room when he really wanted to watch wrestling.  I thought that was so much fun - it was like a picnic!

Ed Sullivan was a favorite (I remember seeing the Beatles first appearance), and Mom loved Queen for a Day and the 50/50 Club.

Movie favorites were White Christmas and the Wizard of Oz.  What special nights those were. Oh, there was also Frosty The Snowman with Burl Ives every year.  Loved those old time shows.   I almost forgot the Wonderful World of Disney.  Remember the commercial around Christmas with Santa 'sledding' down the hill on a Schick razor?  LOL

Holidays were fun and much simpler.  Homemade cookies and candies galore.  Mom made her spiced fruit rolls for many gifts.  Lots of the items we got were homemade clothes.  Everything single thing was wrapped - so it looked like a lot, even if it wasn't.  Of course Santa always left a doll or teddy bear sitting out under the tree!

What a year that was - I got a tricycle and a baby too.  Look at all those presents - it always looked like tons, because every book, color book, and item of clothing was wrapped.  Yep, that's little me!!!

Daddy always got a carton of cigarettes from my aunt & uncle - the special holiday carton!  LOL.  We always knew that was going to be his gift.  He always got handkerchiefs or underwear from me!  Surprise - not!  My aunt always brought me some kind of fruit/nut roll dipped in chocolate.  I always knew it was coming - and I hated them (what a crazy kid).  No problem Daddy volunteered to eat them.

I loved getting ribbon candy (I liked the thick kind) and little filled hard raspberry candies.  Those are still a favorite - if I can find them I buy them.

Saturday morning was always grocery day.  I used to get so excited to go.  It was just the most fascinating, brightly lit, exciting place to me.  So many things to look at.  Things I had never heard of or seen.  Remember there were no malls yet - so grocery stores were a big deal!  Daddy would always wait in the car and Mom and I would walk the store.  She had a very set dollar amount to spend (I remember like $15) and always managed to spend it wisely.  We got basics - because all the good stuff was made at home!

I believe we shopped Standard Grocery most often.  Once in a while A & P, then Kroger came in the area and we went there.  Mom  always collected green stamps from Standard and yellow stamps from A & P.  Daddy often got yellow stamps from some gas station as well.  Many a gift was 'purchased' with those stamps.

                                                Remember these?  What a treat that was!

We never got soda pop at our house very often.  We always got a 6 pack of little bottles of Coke at Christmas - because Daddy insisted that Santa got tired of milk!!!!
Once each summer I got to go with Dad down to the hardware store and pick out a whole case of assorted pop.  It came in the old wooden crates and the had every Nehi flavor my little mind could imagine.  Daddy would stand and talk with the owner (Daddy LOVED to talk) and I would decide on pop in the back room.  I had orders to get a few grape - as that was Dad's favorite.  This case of pop would last the entire summer and was only enjoyed on those super hot days.  What a treat!

My goodness I could go on forever.  I hope I didn't bore you with my reminiscing.  Some days I just get so nostalgic.  I truly miss those days.  Thank God for memories - because memories can sure make you smile and sometimes leak a few tears as well.
I know not everyone had good childhoods and I am so sorry for those who didn't.  Maybe for a few minutes you can read about mine and smile a little.

I have so many memories and stories.  Maybe I will tell some more stories another day.
I hope I took you back to quieter and more simple times and made you smile just a little.
HAVE A GREAT DAY!