You may have already seen this, but either way it brings back memories.

Remember when... Let's go back....... Close your eyes.....And go back........ Before the Internet or the MAC, Before semi automatics and crack Before SEGA or Super Nintendo Way back........ I'm talkin' bout hide and go seek at dusk. Sittin' on the porch, Hot bread and butter.

The ice cream man, Red light, Green light.

Chocolate milk, Lunch tickets, Penny candy in a brown paper bag. Hopscotch, butterscotch, doubledutch.

Jacks, kickball, dodgeball, y'all! Mother May I? Hula Hoops and Sunflower Seeds, Mary Janes. Running through the sprinkler (I can't get wet! All right, well don't wet my hair....) The smell of the sun and lickin' salty lips.... Watchin' Saturday Morning cartoons, Fat Albert, Road Runner, and Bugs, Catchin' lightening bugs in a jar, Playin' sling shot.

When around the corner seemed far away, And going downtown seemed like going somewhere.

Bedtime, Climbing trees, A million mosquito bites and sticky fingers, Cops and Robbers, Cowboys and Indians, Sittin on the curb, Jumpin down the steps, Jumpin on the bed.

Pillow fights, Being tickled to death, Runnin' till you were out of breath, Laughing so hard that your stomach hurt Being tired from playin'.... Remember that?

I ain't finished just yet...

Crowding around in a circle around the 'after school fight', then running when the teacher came.

There's nothing like the good old days! They were good then, and they're good now when we think about them.

Remember when...

When there were two types of sneakers for girls and boys (Keds & PF Flyers), and the only time you wore them at school, was for "gym."

When it took five minutes for the TV to warm up.

When nearly everyone's mom was at home when the kids got there.

When nobody owned a purebred dog.

When a quarter was a decent allowance, and another quarter a huge bonus.

When you'd reach into a muddy gutter for a penny.

When girls neither dated nor kissed until late high school, if then.

When your mom wore nylons that came in two pieces.

When laundry detergent had free glasses, dishes or towels hidden inside the box.

When any parent could discipline any kid, or feed him, or use him to carry groceries, and nobody, not even the kid, thought a thing of it.

When it was considered a great privilege to be taken out to dinner at a real restaurant with your parents.

When they threatened to keep kids back a grade if they failed... and did!

When being sent to the principal's office was nothing compared to the fate that awaited a misbehaving student at home.

Basically, we were in fear for our lives but it wasn't because of drive by shootings, drugs, gangs, etc....

Our parents and grandparents were a much bigger threat!!!!!!!!!!!

-- Shau Marie in WI (shau@centurytel.net), January 11, 2001

Answers

Brings a tear to my eye. I remember most of what this is about. Not the part about the quarter being a good allowance...I'm too young for that. I guess I had an old fashioned upbringing and I'm grateful for it. If only I could give the same thing to my children!

-- Amanda in Mo (aseley@townsqr.com), January 11, 2001.

I definately remember the free towels, etc. in the soap (seems like they did it with oatmeal, too). I remember when if you wanted to watch a whole TV show against the wished of your sibs, you had to sit there and hold the knob (later, the pliers that served when the knob could take know more!) and woe betide the show-enthralled who had weak bladders!

-- Soni (thomkilroy@hotmail.com), January 11, 2001.

That is exactly what it was like at our place. My brother was the miser of the T.V. I recall our first color set, i was in 10th grade. I think being in a small town had alot to do with the way i live. I am old fashion and i love it. Our daughter is 16 and we were always told how polite she was. I am very proud of that.

-- Shau Marie (shau@centurytel.net), January 11, 2001.

I remember Bama jellies in a real strong glass and being disciplined by a neighbors parent (we usually deservrd it), then being disciplined again when I got home. Looking back, that "double jeapordy" did a lot to keep me straight. Thanks for the memories.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), January 12, 2001.

I remeber all that and more.

I remember sitting in the living room on Sun. and having my father read to us the comics. He would read the caption then explain the picture. We thought is was all so exciting. Then we would all have a big brunch with homemade blueberry muffins.

I remember lisitng to Sky King, The Green Hornet, Fibber McGee and Molly, etc. on the radio because no one had a TV. Does anyone remember the Inner Sanctum with its squeeky door.

I remember the Play Mate Club and all the goods things we used to do. I remember ghost stories and no parent worried if you were outside playing after dark.

I remeber when Halloween meant getting homemade taffy apples, fudge, popcorn balls and not being afraid to eat them.

I remember playing outside, riding my bike, making up games with sisters and friends. These are what we did to amuse ourselves. No one ever said they were bored.

It is too bad that so many children will not have those memories or learn those values.

My oldest (at 39 and my youngest at 16) remember baking cookies, eating bread fresh from the oven, walks in the woods.

Thanks for letting me remember.

-- Cordelia Kaylegian (ckaylegian@aol.com), January 12, 2001.

Amen ! I worked 8 years with juvies and I can tell you the worst thing we ever did was to fix it so a kid couldnt work-really work- and share his earnings with the family. KidS today have nothing to do. They arent accountable to anyone or for anything. If you think so try to hold them accountable. You will be cursed out first by them and then by their parents!

-- Norman and Susie Stretton (nightsong@beci.net), January 17, 2001.

Soni, once again you delight me!!!! Pliers on the teevee knob. That is a veritable Proustian vision!

-- sheepish (WA) (rborgo@gte.net), January 17, 2001.

I remember when my dad came home from the steel mill with his first $1oo check. We danced around rejoicing thinking we were RICH!! Now a $100 check won't hardly make it home from work!! I also remember when we could go to town, shop, eat, and go to a movie for less than $5!!! Of course my sister and I were not "big spenders".

-- Deborah Carmichael (brownswiss99@Yahoo.com), January 17, 2001.

Did you ever sit two people on two scateboards, your butt on yours and your feet on the other persons, and vice-versa, and then go down the biggest street known to mankind? Screaming and laughing all the way. And I crashed sooo many times riding on the handle bars of bikes. But we kept doing it!

-- Cindy in Ky (solidrockranch@msn.com), January 18, 2001.

And crabapple wars at dusk, and playing cards clothespinned to the spokes on your bikes for the roar, and 4-square, and pop being something you could only have as a special treat at Grandma's, and marbles - REAL marbles: peeries & pints-ies & quarts-ies & steelies...

-- snoozy (allen@oz.net), January 18, 2001.