Remember When

In 2003, Alan Jackson wrote a great country/western song "Remember When."  The lyrics are not relevant here, but I'm stealing the title.

Remember when bottle and jar caps could be removed without a screwdriver and pliers?  When brown paper bags were all that were offered in the grocery store and they were free?  And we recycled them ourselves into book covers and to wrap packages.  Remember when dancing was a good excuse to hold your partner close?  When kids could play outside all day and parents didn't worry if they were out of sight?  Remember when Sunday drives were a real form of entertainment for the whole family?  We always stopped for an Orange Julius before heading home.  (Of course, that was before freeways.)  Remember when cars had individual characteristics and you could tell a Chrysler from a Chevy or a high-class Cadillac?  I could fill a page with all that has gone...just gone.

I avoided a visit to Vampire Hall yesterday as my numbers have improved.  Doc seemed pleased and has extended my trips from every three weeks to every three months, and that certainly pleases me.  I'd noticed on the way into town that a turn signal was acting wonky, so on the way home I stopped to have it looked at.  Light bulbs and a fuse were replaced, to no avail.  Turns out that brake light was also nonfunctioning.  Oh crum.  Back to "remember when."  I wasn't sure if there were any drivers out there who understood hand signals for turning.  They probably thought I was some crazy lady waving her arm out the window.  I have an appointment at the shop on Monday.  I'll get the air-conditioner repaired at the same time.  It got really hot yesterday and summer is just around the corner, and I'm a lady who likes her comfort.

The Kentucky Derby runs today, so I know what I'll be doing.  I remember when Derby Day was a good reason for a party.  Of course, we never needed a reason back then.

PS:  I was playing "remember when" with a cousin yesterday and she said, "Remember when there used to be large jars of huge, crunchy, sour dill pickles on store counters and they were a nickel each?  When's the last time you saw one of those?"  It's a good game for those of us of a certain age.  Feel free, as Emmy did, to join in!