Nostalgia

At times I think about my childhood and believe things were much simpler then. Of course if I remember correctly, my parents said the same thing. As the summer has come to a close and autumn is now upon us, so too is the autumn of our years. Let’s take a deep breath and enjoy the change of seasons as we remember, fondly, years gone by. And know that

“Age is just the number of years the world has been enjoying you.”

“Remember when” is a phrase that conjures memories. It is commonly used to think about past events, former life experiences, and activities with a certain level of fondness. “Remember when” is a way to recall past experiences, places, or times. Usually these thoughts hold positive meaning or special memories. The phrase may evoke a sense of shared history.

Do you remember when ….

… we rode in the back compartment of the station wagon or the back of a pickup truck and no one thought our parents were irresponsible?

… cereal was considered a good-for-you breakfast?

… you were your parents’ television remote? (“Johnny, change the channel”)

… you played outside until dusk? My dad would whistle shrilly, meaning it was time to go in … and all the neighborhood kids went home.

… you walked to and from school, often alone?

… your parents did not lock the house or the car?

… good manners were expected, not amazingly appreciated?

… “Beam me up, Scotty” and watches you could talk into were science fiction?

… you enjoyed the funnies in color on Sunday morning while your dad read the news and mom clipped coupons from the newspaper?

… paper bags were bad because they destroyed trees; the solution was plastic bags?

… you had to memorize the “times tables”, aka multiplication?

… when you dialed a phone number you actually turned a dial and the telephone number began with letters? FR2-2579

… the family ate together at the kitchen table and mom had cooked the food?

… the doctor made house calls?

… gay was a synonym for happy?

… kids had BB guns that would “shoot your eyes out” ?

… the family attended church and Sunday School or other religious traditions, as a family?

What do you remember about your childhood? Reminisce on days gone by, focusing on happier times when the world was your oyster. (What does that mean, anyway?!)

While we do not want to wallow in the past, sometimes nostalgia kicks in and we …

Remember when ….