A whimsical, yet semi-serious look at some of the things we will never do again.
Make crank phone calls… “Is your refrigerator runnin’?” or “Do you have Prince Edward in a can?”
Fill up your car for $5 of less.
Watch a black and white TV
Use a rotary phone
Use a party line
Shop at the White Store or Stop and Shop
Drive past Jackson School
Stop by Richeson’s, or Five to Five, or Bowman Porters,.
Watch a movie at Cole’s Drive In
Get a haircut from Ted Watts
Get a frosty mug of A&W root beer at the west end A & W drive in.
Go to Davis Ferry.
Walk across the river bridge.
Buy the latest album at Tic-Toc's.
Catch a train at the depot or a Trailways bus at Richeson's.
I'm sure all of you can make your own list. It brings a sad little smile doesn't it?
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
A Look Back - April 1970
April 1 – President Nixon signs the Public Health Cigarette Smoking Act into law, banning cigarette television advertisements in the United States, starting January 1, 1971.
April 1 – American Motors introduces the Gremlin.
April 8 – A huge gas explosion at a subway construction site in Osaka, Japan kills 79 and injures over 400.
April 8 – Israeli Air Force F4 Phantom II fighter bombers kill 47 Egyptian school children at an elementary school in what is known as Bahr el-Baqar massacre. The single-floor school was hit by five bombs and two air-to-ground missiles.
April 10 – Paul McCartney announces that the Beatles have disbanded, while at the same press conference, announcing the release of his first solo album. The Elton John album is released, the second album by Elton John, but the first to chart and the first to be released in America.
April 11 – Apollo 13 (Jim Lovell, Fred Haise, Jack Swigert) is launched toward the Moon.
April 13 – An oxygen tank in the Apollo 13 spacecraft explodes, forcing the crew to abort the mission and return in 4 days.
April 17 – Apollo program: Apollo 13 splashes down safely in the Pacific.
April 22 – The first Earth Day is celebrated in the U.S.
April 24 – China's first satellite (Dong Fang Hong 1) is launched into orbit using a Long March-1 Rocket (CZ-1).
April 26 – World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is formed
April 29 – The U.S. invades Cambodia to hunt out the Viet Cong; widespread, large antiwar protests occur in the U.S.
April 1 – American Motors introduces the Gremlin.
April 8 – A huge gas explosion at a subway construction site in Osaka, Japan kills 79 and injures over 400.
April 8 – Israeli Air Force F4 Phantom II fighter bombers kill 47 Egyptian school children at an elementary school in what is known as Bahr el-Baqar massacre. The single-floor school was hit by five bombs and two air-to-ground missiles.
April 10 – Paul McCartney announces that the Beatles have disbanded, while at the same press conference, announcing the release of his first solo album. The Elton John album is released, the second album by Elton John, but the first to chart and the first to be released in America.
April 11 – Apollo 13 (Jim Lovell, Fred Haise, Jack Swigert) is launched toward the Moon.
April 13 – An oxygen tank in the Apollo 13 spacecraft explodes, forcing the crew to abort the mission and return in 4 days.
April 17 – Apollo program: Apollo 13 splashes down safely in the Pacific.
April 22 – The first Earth Day is celebrated in the U.S.
April 24 – China's first satellite (Dong Fang Hong 1) is launched into orbit using a Long March-1 Rocket (CZ-1).
April 26 – World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is formed
April 29 – The U.S. invades Cambodia to hunt out the Viet Cong; widespread, large antiwar protests occur in the U.S.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
The Last One... Maybe... or at Least for Now
Pep talk that is.
Reasons not to come to the reunion:
1. It's too far to drive.
2. It's always in the same old place.
3. I don't like someone who might show up.
4. I didn't like anybody anyway, no matter who shows up.
5. I don't like the way it is handled.
6. My wife is pregnant... and due to deliver.
7. I'm pregnant and due to deliver.
8. I look terrible and don't want anyone to see me.
9. I have grey hair and wrinkles
10. I'm too fat
11. I'm too skinny
12. It's my anniversary
13. It's always the same old people, each and every time.
14. I'm not the stud I used to be.
15. I'm not the knock out I used to be.
16. We're going to be on vacation.
17. I promised I'd take my wife out to dinner that night. (I actually heard that one once)
18. I don't have a thing to wear.
19. I'm going to have surgery.
20. I've fallen and I can't get up.
Why those don't matter.
1. Then take a bus or a plane. We're worth it.
2. It's where the most people want it to be, the place we shared. Bang! Right off the bat we have something in common. Something to break the ice.
3. Then shy away from them and lean toward someone/some people you do like.
4. Then show up so we won't talk about you. Flaunt it if you have to, just show up.
5. Then jump right in there and help handle it another way.
6. At your age?
7. At your age, too?
8. We all have changed. Compared to what we used to look like, we're all down a notch or two, but guess what? It doesn't matter.
9. Don't we all?
10. So am I. :) But only if being as big as a house is too fat.
11. At our age I don't think there's such a thing as too skinny.
12. Then bring them along. You can sneak off together later.
13. There is nothing wrong with someone who enjoys being around old friends. Give it a chance for heaven's sake.
14 Who is? For that matter, who was?
15. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and in the memories of some good old friends.
16. What better place to have a good time? Plus, it's cheaper than Disney World and a lot less crowded.
17. So? Take her out afterward. Or, take her out before and bring us the doggy bag.
18. Then wrap a towel around your middle, pull up close to the door, crank down your window, and we'll come outside to talk to you.
19. We'll help you prep beforehand, or mend afterward.
20. Then we'll get you a walker. :)
Listen, I know that the 40th doesn't have quite the luster of the 50th, but it's here now, and so are we. We've lost a bunch of classmates si far and who knows what the next 10 years hold?,
So, please be there. Fly, drive, swim, run, walk, hobble, crawl or call some of us and we'll carry you. We want to see you.
Reasons not to come to the reunion:
1. It's too far to drive.
2. It's always in the same old place.
3. I don't like someone who might show up.
4. I didn't like anybody anyway, no matter who shows up.
5. I don't like the way it is handled.
6. My wife is pregnant... and due to deliver.
7. I'm pregnant and due to deliver.
8. I look terrible and don't want anyone to see me.
9. I have grey hair and wrinkles
10. I'm too fat
11. I'm too skinny
12. It's my anniversary
13. It's always the same old people, each and every time.
14. I'm not the stud I used to be.
15. I'm not the knock out I used to be.
16. We're going to be on vacation.
17. I promised I'd take my wife out to dinner that night. (I actually heard that one once)
18. I don't have a thing to wear.
19. I'm going to have surgery.
20. I've fallen and I can't get up.
Why those don't matter.
1. Then take a bus or a plane. We're worth it.
2. It's where the most people want it to be, the place we shared. Bang! Right off the bat we have something in common. Something to break the ice.
3. Then shy away from them and lean toward someone/some people you do like.
4. Then show up so we won't talk about you. Flaunt it if you have to, just show up.
5. Then jump right in there and help handle it another way.
6. At your age?
7. At your age, too?
8. We all have changed. Compared to what we used to look like, we're all down a notch or two, but guess what? It doesn't matter.
9. Don't we all?
10. So am I. :) But only if being as big as a house is too fat.
11. At our age I don't think there's such a thing as too skinny.
12. Then bring them along. You can sneak off together later.
13. There is nothing wrong with someone who enjoys being around old friends. Give it a chance for heaven's sake.
14 Who is? For that matter, who was?
15. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and in the memories of some good old friends.
16. What better place to have a good time? Plus, it's cheaper than Disney World and a lot less crowded.
17. So? Take her out afterward. Or, take her out before and bring us the doggy bag.
18. Then wrap a towel around your middle, pull up close to the door, crank down your window, and we'll come outside to talk to you.
19. We'll help you prep beforehand, or mend afterward.
20. Then we'll get you a walker. :)
Listen, I know that the 40th doesn't have quite the luster of the 50th, but it's here now, and so are we. We've lost a bunch of classmates si far and who knows what the next 10 years hold?,
So, please be there. Fly, drive, swim, run, walk, hobble, crawl or call some of us and we'll carry you. We want to see you.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
I Fell in Love Today
Or, maybe it was just some mid life crisis type thing.
I was behind this new Dodge Challenger, and I started to wonder how it would drive, how the motor would sound, and how I'd look behind the wheel. Really, it wasn't that far removed from when I was 16 and eyeing a '68 Challenger.
Just like back then I thought it was a sweet looking car, the body lines so perfect.
And I would almost bet that Sue's objections to it today wouldn't be that far removed from the objections I heard back then. It's too pricey, the insurance would be outrageous, you don't need to be driving a car like that, how could you afford to keep gas in it, and on and on.
And my answers would be almost like they were back then... who cares?!?!? It's a great looking car! You're not ever going to have anything if you keep talking yourself out of it.
So who knows, come reunion time you might see me coming driving up in a big shiney.... family van. :)
I was behind this new Dodge Challenger, and I started to wonder how it would drive, how the motor would sound, and how I'd look behind the wheel. Really, it wasn't that far removed from when I was 16 and eyeing a '68 Challenger.
Just like back then I thought it was a sweet looking car, the body lines so perfect.
And I would almost bet that Sue's objections to it today wouldn't be that far removed from the objections I heard back then. It's too pricey, the insurance would be outrageous, you don't need to be driving a car like that, how could you afford to keep gas in it, and on and on.
And my answers would be almost like they were back then... who cares?!?!? It's a great looking car! You're not ever going to have anything if you keep talking yourself out of it.
So who knows, come reunion time you might see me coming driving up in a big shiney.... family van. :)
I Think We're Moving
If all of you haven't heard yet, Delphia is getting things started on the reunion. She's trying to set up a meeting where everything can be discussed. From what I understand, the meeting is open to anyone who wants to show up with constructive ideas.
As I see it, we have 90 days to put this thing on solid ground, so everyone open up and lets's work together on this thing. The school has been mentioned as the location, and I think that is both convenient and affordable for everyone.
I think we should try and pack the house. I know everyone won't show up, but heck we can try. I know we've been beating the bushes for awhile now, but we need to turn that up a notch. Everyone who knows someone else, whether they have email or not, track them down and get them pumped up about it too. Obviously, we can't beat them to death about it, but we can be consistent.
What do you say? Let's pump it up!
As I see it, we have 90 days to put this thing on solid ground, so everyone open up and lets's work together on this thing. The school has been mentioned as the location, and I think that is both convenient and affordable for everyone.
I think we should try and pack the house. I know everyone won't show up, but heck we can try. I know we've been beating the bushes for awhile now, but we need to turn that up a notch. Everyone who knows someone else, whether they have email or not, track them down and get them pumped up about it too. Obviously, we can't beat them to death about it, but we can be consistent.
What do you say? Let's pump it up!
Thursday, March 04, 2010
Going to the Movies
The Oscars are almost here and the movie, “That Evening Sun” that has gotten some attention, was filmed right there in our neck of the woods. I think primarily in and around Knoxville and Roane County. Anyway, I will probably watch it the first chance I get just to see if anything looks familiar. Which brings to mind a question --- are there any movies that remind you of Loudon and the surrounding area, either the way it is now or the way it used to be? They don't have to be filmed near Loudon, just remind you of it.
I can name a few.
Wild River. A 50s movie that dealt with damming the Tennessee River.
Deliverance. Not the “squeal like a pig” part, but the scenery.
October Sky.
The Legend of Boggie Creek. But without the monster.
Thunder Road.
Foxfire. John Denver, Hume Cronin and Jessica Tandy
The Education of Little Tree.
Can you think of any more?
I can name a few.
Wild River. A 50s movie that dealt with damming the Tennessee River.
Deliverance. Not the “squeal like a pig” part, but the scenery.
October Sky.
The Legend of Boggie Creek. But without the monster.
Thunder Road.
Foxfire. John Denver, Hume Cronin and Jessica Tandy
The Education of Little Tree.
Can you think of any more?
A Look Back - March 1970
March 1 – Rhodesia severs ties with the United Kingdom, declaring itself a racially segregated republic.
March 5 – The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty goes into effect, after ratification by 43 nations.
March 6 – A bomb being constructed by members of the Weathermen and meant to be planted at a military dance in New Jersey, explodes, killing 3 members of the organization.
March 6 – Süleyman Demirel of AP forms the new government of Turkey (32nd government)
March 12 – Teenagers in the United Kingdom vote for the first time.
March 15 – The Expo '70 World's Fair opens in Suita, Osaka, Japan.
March 16 – The complete New English Bible is published.
March 17 – The United States Army charges 14 officers with suppressing information related to the My Lai massacre.
March 18 – General Lon Nol ousts Prince Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia.
March 18 – United States Postal Service workers in New York City go on strike; the strike spreads to the state of California and the cities of Akron, Ohio, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Chicago, Boston, and Denver, Colorado; 210,000 out of 750,000 U.S. postal employees walk out. President Nixon assigns military units to New York City post offices. The strike lasts 2 weeks.
March 20 – Agency for Cultural and Technical Co-operation (ACCT) (Agence de Coopération Culturelle et Technique).
March 21 – The first Earth Day proclamation is issued by San Francisco Mayor Joseph Alioto.
March 25 – The Concorde makes its first supersonic flight (700 mph 1,127 km/h).
March 31 – NASA's Explorer 1, the first American satellite and Explorer program spacecraft, reenters Earth's atmosphere after 12 years in orbit.
March 31 – Japan Airlines Flight 351, carrying 131 passengers and 7 crew from Tokyo to Fukuoka, is hijacked by Japanese Red Army members. All passengers are eventually freed.
March 5 – The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty goes into effect, after ratification by 43 nations.
March 6 – A bomb being constructed by members of the Weathermen and meant to be planted at a military dance in New Jersey, explodes, killing 3 members of the organization.
March 6 – Süleyman Demirel of AP forms the new government of Turkey (32nd government)
March 12 – Teenagers in the United Kingdom vote for the first time.
March 15 – The Expo '70 World's Fair opens in Suita, Osaka, Japan.
March 16 – The complete New English Bible is published.
March 17 – The United States Army charges 14 officers with suppressing information related to the My Lai massacre.
March 18 – General Lon Nol ousts Prince Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia.
March 18 – United States Postal Service workers in New York City go on strike; the strike spreads to the state of California and the cities of Akron, Ohio, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Chicago, Boston, and Denver, Colorado; 210,000 out of 750,000 U.S. postal employees walk out. President Nixon assigns military units to New York City post offices. The strike lasts 2 weeks.
March 20 – Agency for Cultural and Technical Co-operation (ACCT) (Agence de Coopération Culturelle et Technique).
March 21 – The first Earth Day proclamation is issued by San Francisco Mayor Joseph Alioto.
March 25 – The Concorde makes its first supersonic flight (700 mph 1,127 km/h).
March 31 – NASA's Explorer 1, the first American satellite and Explorer program spacecraft, reenters Earth's atmosphere after 12 years in orbit.
March 31 – Japan Airlines Flight 351, carrying 131 passengers and 7 crew from Tokyo to Fukuoka, is hijacked by Japanese Red Army members. All passengers are eventually freed.
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