Wednesday, October 7, 2020

Some Days - I Wish

 Some days I wish we could go back a little.  Back when life was not so modern and so complicated.  Back when there was less technology.  Back to a time of happiness and joy in even the smallest things.  Back to childhood and friends and family.  Back to a safer world.


Anyone remember when grocery stores were like this?  Power outage - who cares.  They could still operate the registers, they could still weigh your produce, they could still accommodate you in every way.  Clerks were friendly - and they often knew your name.

I remember play time was either in my yard or a friend's yard.  We played with whatever we had.  We used our imaginations.  We rode bikes,  We played in the creek for hours.  Walked to the small family owned grocery for penny candy!   No one watched us - yet everyone did.  Parents knew what was going on - we just didn't realize it.  All parents looked out for each others children.  No one was worried about perverts or child snatching.  We were safe.



I don't remember gas quite this cheap - but when I got my first car I do believe gas was about .30/gallon.  I could put $2 or $3 in the car and go for what seemed forever.  My first car was a 1964 Ford Galaxy - a tank!  Robin egg blue.  Paid $300 for it and I paid for it with money I had earned.  I got it is '72.  I made money on that car (that is another story).  I sold it in '74 and it was going for years after.
Service techs  pumped the gas, cleaned your windows and checked your oil if you so desired.  They would check your tires and add air if need be.  I know some people today find that hard to believe.

There is something about certain times of the year that just send me back in time.  I miss people I loved, I miss the innocent times.
I smell leaves burning - I go back in time.  I see a pile of leaves - I want to jump in.  I see pumpkins and apples, I remember having a ball at Halloween and at friends little parties.  I look out at the colors of fall and remember taking drives in the country with Mom and Daddy to the country (often to glean apples and persimmons and paw paws).
Mom would be gearing up for the holidays this time of year.  Canning was being finished, crafts were being done and baking would be starting soon.
Put on a sweater and sit out on the porch swing with my girlfriend or Mom and count cars or just sit and chat.  Making hot chocolate and having homemade cookies for a snack.  Caramel apples (homemade) and popcorn balls.
Aaahhhhhh fall!


Just for a while!!!!!  
I wouldn't want to miss all the wonderful things that came to pass after the 'old days' - but some days just a small visit back then would be fun.  
Many family members are gone, many friends from then are gone, the simple things and times are gone, BUT my memories are still VIVID.  
For that I say THANK YOU God!

Life is really short - the years go so quickly.  I can't believe I will be 66 this month, childhood seems like yesterday.  ENJOY every moment you can.  Live it to the fullest.  Make memories for others.
Blessings my friends.

32 comments:

  1. I remember as a child how long summer seemed and how slow time seemed to pass between one Christmas and the next. Not anymore. It all flies by too quickly.

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    1. Agree totally. Times flies so quickly.
      Memories!

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  2. My sister and I are in our 70s and we speak once a week by phone and this is one of the topics that often comes up. She would like to go back and apologize to a few people she hurt. I would like to wander the neighborhood and the shopping district and see some young people. Ah, if only.

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    1. I still have a couple friends from childhood - although we only speak now and then. But such wonderful memories of days gone by. I would love to know what happened to certain people and MAYBE an apology or two as well.
      Yes, if only.

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  3. My parents' first new car was a '64 Ford Galaxy 500, white with blue interior. We kids weren't allowed near it unless we were going somewhere. I learned my first really baaaaad swearword (the BIG one) when my father backed it into a small tree when I was 5 years old. Other than the dent in the chrome bumper, that car was in pristine condition the day they traded it in for a '73 Ford Maverick.

    Some store clerks are still friendly. I made the quarterly pilgrimage to WalMart Monday and got my favorite checkout clerk. We chatted like old friends. The tellers at our bank are also friendly (and even laugh at Husbands's jokes and flirting!)

    Although we can't actually go back in time, we can still live like the old days. Put down the technology and go outside. Talk to an old friend and reminisce. Keep the wonder and curiosity of childhood. Let worries go and live for the day sometimes. The problems of the world will still be there, but we don't have to always focus on them. The '60s & '70s had their problems, too. One day now will be "the good old days".

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    1. You are so right. Today will be someone's good old days (I guess).
      Yes, we need to unplug and become more aware of nature and our family and friends. Live for the moment.
      I love that - thanks.
      LOL - that is funny on the swear word!!!! I can just imagine.
      I got hit in my car too - reared ended by some kid in a new car. He was extracted out the back door - mine had a dent in the truck and a broken light! Scared me, but I got to have my car - he wasn't so lucky (or his parents weren't - LOL)

      Once in a while I meet a friendly soul while out and about - usually everyone just sticks to themselves.

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  4. I have never commented before and would like to tell you how much I enjoy reading your posts. I will turn 62 in a couple of months and have been enjoying this slower pace since March(by no means enjoying this pestilence just the slower pace). I also got to thinking this is the good old days for my children and grandchildren so I am going to make it as wonderful as possible. We are showing them how to put in a garden, grow blueberries, and raise backyard chickens. Again love your blog and frugal tips, memory lane, etc. Your childhood was a lot like mine(small town, hardworking parents and grandparents.)

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    1. So glad to have you here. Life sure was slower back in the day. This summer has been too. MAYBE that is a blessing for some younger folks and us older ones - a reminder to stop and enjoy. Each moment is precious!
      So glad you are getting to teach some wonderful and valuable lessons on. They will never forget!
      I guess everything happens for a reason - so maybe we are just getting a wake up call.

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  5. I have often thought this too Cheryl. I think I didn't know how good I had it.

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    1. AMEN to that. None of us did. It was pretty darn good.

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  6. I miss those days and the loved ones who are gone. Glad we have the memories. I try to remember that these will be the good old days for my kids, so I need to try to give them happy memories to last a lifetime.

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    1. Me too. Yes, try to make it special so they think back like you do and smile. That is what we can all hope for.

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  7. I always wanted to be a 50's housewife, as I thought the ability to stay home and just be a mom would be great. Husband could pay all the bills. It would have been so much easier, but then again women did not have the rights they do now.

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    1. My Mom worked pretty hard even with Daddy working - of course we didn't have a lot of money.
      I would give some things up to live during those times again - but that is just me.

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  8. I miss those days so much. We knew all our neighbors and everyone looked out for each other. Neighbors that care or visit, today, are almost extinct. I grew up in the 50's and the world would be immensely better off with the values of those days compared to today.

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    1. VALUES - there is the word! Values and strong morals. Everything was different. I have a few good neighbors, but it isn't like the old days.

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  9. Thank you Cheryl - my memories are lovely trips back into my childhood - we ran, played, hopped, rode our bikes, roller skated and I read and read and read - I read all the books in the children's section of our small public library and had to beg to read books from the 'other' room.
    Joy

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    1. You are more than welcome. I love sharing my younger days - they were just fun. I remember sharing books with friends after we ran out of library books from our little library. We had reading contests in school (2nd grade) - who read the most in a semester. We had to read them out loud!!!! My poor parents. I won 2 times!! Of course those were tiny books - but it got me started.
      Memories sure are wonderful trips!

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  10. I enjoyed this post and wish sometimes I could pause in the past. I also had a Ford Galaxy that I got in 1972. Think mine was a 63 model. My first car. So thankful I still remember the good memories from the past.

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    1. Must have been the car to have!! Did a lot of weekend cruising in that car!
      i hope I always have those times in my head.

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  11. Such fun memories. I don't drive but I remember one friend having a lime green (with white leather interior) absolute tank of a car which we used to drive around in. It must have been from the 50's so it was close to 20 years old by the time she had it but what an eye catcher that was!
    On Monday a friend and I went for a walk along the river that is just 5 minutes from my apt. The salmon are running and the fishermen were out and it was an amazing sight. What I really loved was seeing all the school kids - schools here are trying to do as much outdoor lessons as possible and the kids were so good - wearing their masks, when sitting on the grass they were well spaced and they just loved being outdoors - seeing the salmon and all the trees turning colour - they were just kids again.

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    1. I bet that car was a beauty!!!! Sounds fun.
      Kids around here have actually played outside a lot this summer - in their yards. The kids a couple doors down have no gadgets - so they make up fun. Kind of nice to see.

      I remember getting to have a class or two outside when it was so hot out. We would go sit under the huge shade trees and have our lessons. Of course there was no AC back then - so it got pretty hot in that old school.
      Glad the kids are enjoying the fall colors and fresh air.
      I bet the fisherman was pretty neat to see. Salmon fishing is neat to watch.

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  12. Living in a small city here in Saskatchewan we still have some of this going on.

    Everybody watches out for each other on my block and we all know each other by sight. The few kids on our small street are out playing in backyards and know that they are safe and have lots of "parents" surrounding them.

    Still things are a bit different as those same children are much more tech savvy.

    God bless.

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    1. I am so glad you live in a caring neighborhood. I know many do - it just seems the world in general has changed. This is surely not the world I grew up in (as far as people). I guess change happens - but some just doesn't seem good.

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  13. i enjoyed reading this. It would be nice to go back for a little while to savour those times we took for granted. thank you for the post. Ann

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    1. Thank you Ann. Yes, just a few moments to enjoy the innocent ways again and the simple little joys we didn't realize that we had. Through the eyes of a child!

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  14. Loved finding this first thing this morning...I agree that the Pandemic has slowed our pace and made us STOP racing here and there. I know it is hard on parents of smaller children with working from home and teaching from home as well, but those kids will have many memories of their parents. Family meals! Family bike rides and walks! Camping in remote places. While I cannot go visit our grandchildren as they are so far away, we do Zoom and their parents are good about sending lots of pictures and small videos. If we can just forget the political climate right now, we can let our minds focus on the simple pleasures. I find I can do that when I am working out in the yard. Our neighbors pretty much keep to themselves, but we all say hello in passing. I have one neighbor that I am fairly close to. And I help my 91 year old hermit neighbor with her mail and paper each day ...as in taking it to a box on her porch by the front door so she can get it. Not much, but she appreciates it.

    Love reading your words, and the comments by your followers. Thank you all. Keeps life in focus...

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    1. All things happen for a reason! I do believe there can be positive that comes from all negative. I think you are so right, there are many GOOD memories being made this year (not by choice but pandemic).
      I love there are options for people to connect - although I hate tech!
      Thank you for being such a good neighbor - I am sure it is very appreciated.
      Thank you

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  15. Oh, yes on all the mentioned! I do remember gas wars when gas was 17 cents a gallon! We kids would make clover chains as long as we could get them...remember that? Sweet, innocent memories....like you said. I've been thinking of subscribing to "Reminisce" magazine again. There are some wonderful old stories in them.
    I LOVE that old grocery store picture (all those pretty brown, paper bags stacked); the sound of the old NCR cash registers (my dad was a repairman), back before price-scanning.
    When we lived in Kansas briefly, my sister and I bought penny candy from the same old (shack) candy store our mom had when she was a little girl.
    Oh, yeah! Gas station attendants...blasts from the past :D
    Thanks for bringing up good old memories, Cheryl.
    Mary (on a reading binge today ;) in San Diego

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    1. Mary yes I remember clover chains and crowns of dandelions! We used our imaginations and had a wonderful time.
      I used to get that magazine and loved it - have thought about doing it again as well. I think they have an online presence as well.
      Thanks for being here and sharing.

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  16. Fall in general is what does it for me. But add wood smoke smell and I could about cry!

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    1. I bet. That probably takes you back down home. Such a beautiful place.

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