MEMORIES

My son, a blog and a PBS show got me to thinking of all the fond memories I have of the past, and how we are depriving our kids and grand kids of these precious moments.
I hope he continues to take my granddaughter, age one, to Tony's Beef stand for their famous pepper and egg sandwich during lent. It truly will be a fond memory for them. What memory will there be of going to the fast food franchises? Note, I have written in previous posts of the sameness and blandness of these various establishments and their products.

Pepsi or Coke, have taken over, and even then you can't make a choice since they want exclusive rights in many places. In the past dozens of brands, were recognized by their bottles and flavors; not their names.

Cars start like clock work, no more flooding the engine; no more opening the hood and sticking a screwdriver down the carburetor to get it started.
TVs turn on instantly and the picture is perfect, no adjusting the controls or playing with those rabbit ear antennas. Did those balls of tin foil really work?

What memories do you get from going to Baskin Robbins to get ice cream? However, at the corner drug store or the ice cream parlor; oh,what a treat! You watched as that shake or banana split was being made and wondered why it was taking him so long to make it. Then, the pleasure of looking at the candy counter, with it's various shapes, sizes and colors galore made one delirious with joy.

Getting back to TV, there were a variety of shows and we were able to associate with them. We knew the characters or a least someone like them. Now a show becomes a hit and we are instantly bombarded with a thousand carbon copies.

Vacations spots; once no two were alike and you can still remember each and every one. Now they are a blur with their catchy names and nothing else.

No more is there a favorite toy or gadget. The minute you purchase your dream thing, it is quickly replaced with a new and improved, "can't live without it" one. No more treasures to cherish, we are to busy discarding the memories for want of a new one.

Crazes change hour to hour if not minute to minute, how quickly something becomes passe'. So let's get off of that four lane super highway and try to travel a two lane, slower paced road. You never know, you might run into a memory. They are out there; its just that they are getting harder to find.