Now that you have time to reflect, you may be inclined to take a little trip down memory lane. For those of us that were born shortly after (or during) WWII, the world we live in has changed dramatically in the course of our lives.
We've witnessed the greatest explosion of technology since the advent of the Industrial Age in the mid 1800's. More so, these changes have impacted our day-to-day lives in ways we can hardly remember - until we take a moment to step apart from the hub-bub of our times and simply....immerse ourselves in "The Good Ole Days"
The following are some of the best collections of 'Remember When' nostalgia I've found, and felt that surely there were others out there who would enjoy a short trip down memory lane as well.
The Fireman & Angel Ice Sculpture
She has warmed hearts across the continent although she's made of ice, leaning tenderly on the shoulder of an exhausted New York City firefighter who is holding a U.S. flag. It's all part of an ice sculpture that made it's appearance in Canada shortly after the attack on the World Trade Center.
No trip down memory lane would be complete without some commemoration of that fateful day in September.
To Remember the Greatness of Our Nation
We can hardly set about sifting thru the memories of days gone by without recalling those who most influenced our thoughts and feelings about who we are and what we stand for. Those were the foundational building blocks of our youth upon which we built many of our beliefs about ourselves and where we fit into the grand scheme of things.
There are many who in this time seem to relish in the opportunity to leap to the podium to rant and deride the values and standards of the nation we are given to call our home.
But, one who took the stage to speak to that which defines our greatness as a nation and as a people stands tall above all the others when it comes time to speak for who we are and why we love our country.
No trip down memory lane would be complete without taking a moment to pay homage to "The Duke".
Boomers growing up in the 40's and 50's can remember when citizenship was more than just a 'right', but was a matter of responsibility. We began our education to that end in the classroom with a daily recital of the Pledge of Allegiance.
Somewhere along the way we have put aside those values in pursuit of personal interests -- forgoing our responsibilities as citizens of a nation of people that stand UNITED in the name of those standards and goals. We've doubted our elected leaders giving ourselves to be critical and self-righteous.
But there are those who remember and speak to those values we've so casually abandoned. One such man was Mr. Red Skelton. Many would say he is a most unlikely choice when it comes to being a national spokesperson, but his rendition of the Pledge has twice been read into the Congressional Record and still stands today as a reminder of who we are and what we stand for in these troubled times. Red shall always be a permanent resident of memory lane.
Growing Up In A Small Town
Those who grew up in small towns will laugh when they read this.Those who didn't will be in disbelief and won't understand how true it is.
1) You can name everyone you graduated with.
2) You know what 4-H means.
3) You went to parties at a pasture, barn, gravel pit, or in the middle of a dirt road. On Monday you could always tell who was at the party because of the scratches on their legs from running through the woods when the party was busted. (See #6.)
4) You used to 'drag' Main .
5) Most people went by a nickname.
6) You scheduled parties around the schedules of different police officers, because you knew which ones would bust you and which ones wouldn't.
7) You could never buy cigarettes because all the store clerks knew how old you were (and if you were old enough, they'd tell your parents anyhow.) Besides, where would you get the money?
8) When you did find somebody old enough and brave enough to buy cigarettes, you still had to go out into the country and drive on back roads to smoke them.
9) You knew which section of the ditch you would find the beer your buyer dropped off.
10) It was cool to date somebody from the neighboring town.
11) The whole school went to the same party after graduation.
12) You didn't give directions by street names but rather by references. "Turn by Nelson's house, go 2 blocks to Anderson's, and it's four houses left of the football field."
13) The golf course had only 9 holes.
14) You couldn't help but date a friend's ex-boyfriend/girlfriend.
15) Your car stayed filthy because of the dirt roads, and you will never own a dark vehicle for this reason.
16) The town next to you was considered 'trashy' or 'snooty,' but was actually just like your town.
17) You referred to anyone with a house newer than 1945 as the 'rich' people.
18) The people in the 'big city' dressed funny, and then you picked up the trend 2 years later.
19) Anyone you wanted could be found at the local gas station or the Dairy Queen.
20) You saw at least one friend a week driving a tractor through town or one of your friends occasionally driving a grain truck to school.
21) The gym teacher suggested you haul hay for the summer to get stronger.
22) Directions were given using THE stop light as a reference.
23) When you decided to walk somewhere for exercise, 5 people would pull over and ask if you wanted a ride.
24) Your teachers called you by your older siblings' names.
25) Your teachers remembered when they taught your parents.
26) You could charge at any local store or write checks without any ID.
27) There was no McDonalds.
28) The closest mall was over an hour away.
29) It was normal to see an old man riding through town on a riding lawn mower.
30) You've pee'd in a cornfield.
31) You laughed yourself sick reading this because you know it is true, and you have shared some of these experiences with everyone you know who grew up in a small town.
The Music
Remember the Music
The Music of our youth is something that stays with us for the remainder of our days, and influences our tastes and attitudes and feelings long after those songs have disappeared from the charts.
I'm sure you will find your favorite/s among the selections to be found here on memory lane at the Tropical Glen Juke Box.
Do You Remember These?
If you are an early days Boomer, you will remember the ever-present Burma Shave signs that dotted the roadsides from coast to coast. This is a nostalgic rendition of those signs as presented by the Statler Brothers...
Memories Are Made of This With Dean Martin
A Little Humor For Those Of Us Who Remember When
This is a delightful rendition of things gone past and a humorous way of seeing them!
The Seventies vs. 2006
Some of us with more than a few miles on the ole' odometer, forget sometimes the differences we face when relating to the youth of today. Maybe this little journey down memory lane will help.
Take Me Back To The 50's
Times seemed simpler back then -- for those of us who 'Remember When'....
Take Me Back to the 60's
The 60's were THE era for those of us born in the mid to late 40's. It was the decade when innocence died and the world changed forever. To drift down memory lane for any Boomer, wouldn't be complete without a brief rendition of what it was like growing up in the 60's.
Boogie Thru Life
A little philosophy for those who may be drooping a bit after all the years that have gone under the bridge over memory lane - that spans the gap between then and now.
The Magic of Early Television
And what would a trip down memory lane be without a salute to some of the premier performers of our time. Comedians, and vocalists that will surely take you back to those gentler times when we sat around the TV late at night and watched performances that we would have probably never experienced without the magic of the Television..
There were so many performers and entertainers we enjoyed in those days, but a favorite at our house was Dean Martin...
The clips below represent some of the best of Dean's show, though picking an all-time favorite is nearly impossible...
And though there were many great vocalist to ease the trials of the day, any trip down memory lane would not be complete without a few selections from Ed Ames....(Some of you may remember him from the Daniel Boone television series with Fess Parker.) Notice that there is hardly anyone under 50 in the audience.
And who can ever forget when we gathered around the TV on Friday nights to share a moment with Joe the Bartender and Crazy Guggenheim as they appeared on the Jackie Gleason show? Those were the days when our TV didn't have a 'parental control' button---or needed one...
And a collection of precious moments from the days long past wouldn't be complete without a performance by some of the greatest vocalist of that time (or any time as far as many are concerned)...One such performer was Mr. Nat King Cole.
And Mr Louie (Sachmo) Armstrong)....
I hope these clips take you back to a gentler time when the path we were given to follow wasn't as confusing and difficult to navigate as it is today.
Feel free to check back here from time to time as I will be adding to this library of golden memories, and should you have any favorites you would like included here, feel free to contact me and forward your suggestion.
