Where Do the Good Times Go?

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I think of gravel roads not yet paved, and vast countrysides not yet subdivised.

I think of drive-in movies instead of walk-in theaters.

I think of little country stores instead of huge shopping centers.

I think of payphones instead of smartphones.

I think of tire swings.

I think of swimming in creeks and lakes.

I think of running around outside bare footed and drinking from water hoses- and no one thinking anything of it.

I think of going to yard sales and flea markets with Grandma

I think of RC colas and Moon Pies.

I think of chewing Super Bubble bubble Gum.

I think of riding around in the backs of pickup trucks.

I think of acid/hair bands instead of emo bands…Kansas, Journey, Boston, Van Halen, Whitesnake and Mötley Crue.

I think of going to church with Uma.

I think of real TV shows like “Dukes of Hazzard,” “Dallas,” “BJ and the Bear,”  and “Chips,” instead of reality shows.

I think of box office movies like “Smokey and the Bandit,” “Jaws,” “Star Wars,” “ET,” and “The Goonies,” instead of the crappy movies of today.

I think of eating at the dinner table instead of in front of the TV or computer.

I think of big old Victorian houses with huge wrap-around porches.

I think of wood stoves and homemade ice cream straight from my grandmother’s ice-cream churn.

I think of shelling peas and shucking corn with Grandma.

I think of fist fights instead of gun fights.

I think of The Lord’s Prayer and The Pledge of Allegiance at the beginning of every school day.

I think of long summer days spent climbing trees, running, skating, bike riding and playing Hide-and-seek instead of sitting in the house playing video games and texting.

I think of running home when the first of the street lights started blinking on in the evening when the sun went down.

I think of Mom or Uma giving out a loud whistle when it was time for lunch and dinner and hearing that whistle for several blocks.

I think of big family Thanksgivings and Christmases.

I think of watching Saturday morning cartoons like “The Bugs Bunny-Roadrunner Show,” “Tweety & Sylvester,” “Pepe Le Pew,” “Yogi Bear,” “Scooby Doo,” “Popeye,” and other TV goodies.

I think of Halloweens when the neighborhood was crawling with trick-or-treaters. No one considered it the devil’s holiday, not even those in church but just an innocent night of fun and playing dress up.

I think of watching “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.”

I think of watching “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “Frosty the  Snowman” during the Christmas season.

Most of all, I think of living in an America that treated its servicemen and women with honor…an America where political correctness wasn’t overblown…an America which was moral, God-fearing, and free of the fear of terrorism within its borders.

I feel sorry for the kids today. I feel sorry for anyone thirty or younger.  If only they could get a taste of the world we grew up in. It’s sad that freedom is dying in America.

Those days weren’t just great. They were magical! Those were the days of freedom!

0 thoughts on “Where Do the Good Times Go?

  1. katiemiafrederick says:

    It’s True i Remember
    ‘Those Days’ Too

    They Were

    Great

    Overall

    For me too

    Yet not Great

    For Everyone

    Let’s Remember
    Still Them True

    Like the People
    Who Couldn’t Travel
    North in My County

    Then

    For

    Real

    Fear of
    Not Coming

    Back Home
    And This Isn’t
    Even Vietnam

    The Place my
    First Cousin

    Died

    In An

    Helicopter
    Burning Up

    Only Ashes

    Left of
    His American

    Dream of Freedom
    To Save And Celebrate

    All Ages Times
    Spaces Distances
    Matters Are Relative

    Depending

    On Souls Who Travel🙏

    While We May Be Free

    Others May

    Be Bullied

    In Real Hell
    On Earth

    Even

    Unwittingly So🎼NoW

  2. Leon Stevens says:

    How about rewinding cassettes by using a pencil…

    It reminds me of this poem that I wrote:

    Things That Used To

    I remember when penny candy was a penny
    (There also used to be pennies)
    Now sitting in drawers, hidden away
    just waiting to be counted again
    I remember when the sun wasn’t dangerous
    (or not as dangerous)
    We stayed outside all day until
    we were beckoned home by the dusk
    I remember when children used to play
    outside, without fear, without concern
    Would they now? If we let them?
    I remember when I had to be home
    for someone to reach me
    Now I am always within grasp
    And even though I turn it off, it angers me
    That I feel uncomfortable
    And when I leave it at home
    I feel naked
    There was a time when people would talk
    using their mouths and eyes
    Not letters, or symbols
    And looked at the people they were with
    I remember when television had two choices:
    on or off
    More often than not, we were outside all day playing
    Until we were beckoned home by the dusk

  3. 80smetalman says:

    Fond memories all, except for me growing up, Friday nights was ABC night. We had “The Brady Bunch,” “The Partridge Family,” “The Odd Couple” and “Love American Style.” On the other hand, I served in the marines from 1979-83 and we were all derelicts and druggies in the eyes of America. In some cases, we were seen as welfare cheats. I was once told that I only went into the service because I was too lazy to try to get a ‘real’ job. Except for that, you bring back some very good memories!

    • cheriewhite says:

      All those old shows are great! And wow! Serving your country isn’t a real job? It sounds like ignorance on the part of the people criticizing you. I think your service in the Marines reflected back to them their own insecurities. My response would’ve been, “Don’t dump on the fact that I served just because you never got off your scared ass and signed up.” But that’s just me.

      • 80smetalman says:

        I think that’s the way America views its peacetime military. Except back then, the worst crap I got was off rednecks, you know, the ones who these days proudly wear “Support Our Troops” on their bumper stickers and t-shirts. They didn’t support us back then. Like I said, we were perceived as druggies. One person even said, “You are in the marines, you’ve must have done some good drugs.” Really?

        • cheriewhite says:

          Not all of America. Those ppl you dealt with were the ignorant Americans. There are many people like me who salute you and all our troops and veterans. Thank you for your service, and I mean it from the bottom of my heart. ❤

          • 80smetalman says:

            Thank you. If more people had thanked me for my service when I did serve and the years right after, I wouldn’t have been so bitter for nearly 30 years and sought solace in Britain.

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