The Fire

Remember when Billy Joel wrote that song called "We didn't start the fire" something like 10 years ago? Evidently he remembered each of the hundreds of events listed rapidly in his song from memory, complete with chronological correctness. I was impressed and still am actually. Here is my version of that:

I remember.....

Penny Candy. Red Hot dollars that were 2 for a penny, along with dozens of other goodies. They were all kept in a glass box on top of the counter in a store long-since gone at the end of the street my parents lived on for 50 years.

The smell of my glove. If you played baseball as a kid - with any passion whatsoever - then you certainly remember standing in the field and placing that glove over your face to suck in the aroma of the leather. If you don't remember, didn't do this, or think I'm crazy - you never shared the same passion. You were just going through the motions.

Banana Seats and High Handle bars. You couldn't have just a bike 40 years ago, no siree mister! It had to be a bike with a leopard skin banana seat and high handle bars. Who needed 10-speeds back then? Not I. Slower? I slowed down. Faster? I peddled harder.

Steel Automobiles. Lots of chrome all shiny and reflecting the sunlight. If you see a well maintained American Rambler or Thunderbird driving down the road today, don't you stop and reflect on a different time and culture? You're damn skippy you do.

Parades and Drum & Bugle Corps Competitions. The 4th of July was always so cool when I grew up. One of the biggest parades anywhere was held, with band after band after band marching by. Floats, fire engines with their powerful horns blaring, funny cars filled with clowns throwing candy to the kids. Afterwards, all the bands would go to the local minor league baseball stadium and have a competition that lasted all day and into the night. Topped off with a modest but really nice fireworks display.

"Look" Magazine. "Life" magazine's more photography-oriented sister. I miss it.

Peace signs. There was a time where they were everywhere. It was pretty much the mantra for harmless hippies and college kids. For some reason when you see one now, it doesn't have the same effect. Some things are meant for certain times and places. A Cindy Sheehan rally is about 35 years removed from that time and place, and it makes me feel uncomfortable when I see one on TV. Kind of like when I see a 50+ year old man with a long pony tail and 5 earrings. Dude...get a haircut.

The Green Monster. The first time I entered Fenway Park to see a Red Sox game in person, I was awestruck at the green everywhere...but in particular, the 35 ft tall left field wall, which to a 7 year old looked at least 250 feet high.

My parents house. When you're a little boy, everything looks so big. Later in life after being away in the service for a lifetime with only the occasional stop-over, you see how small houses were that were built 85 years ago. Still a wonderful place, that house. Lot's of warmth and friendly memories there.

The woods in back. We used to ski in these woods, rode sleds through these woods, found the occasional Revolutionary War artifact in these woods, and played a lot of cowboys and indians in these woods. They're still there, unfortunately I'm here. By the way the skis and the poles were made of wood, and the ski boots were tied not strapped.

The McDonald's Arch sign. I remember when the sign said "Over half a million sold", and it took years to reach a million. I saw something the other night that said they sold 46 Billion last year alone.

Rotary Phones that actually "rang". A Gallon of Gas was 50 cents. Movie Theaters had balconies that would open for a Saturday matinee, and each theater in town had 1 screen and 1 movie showing. I'm not too sure of the price, but it wasn't equal to the mortgage payment like it is today. Drive-in Movies, and sneaking the kids into them via the trunk. 3 TV stations. To be honest, that part we do better today. Stealing your first kiss at age 16 and not 12. Obedience. If you were born after 1985, you have no chance of understanding that word.

So much more, all of it drifting farther and farther away.

Sigh.