Back in the Day…. Then… and Now

Sometimes it is fun to step back and look at the big picture. Changes occur so subtly and slowly in our culture that often we don’t even realize what’s changed until we consciously take inventory of our surroundings. The following are some things in life that are very different from… back in the day.

Then… We used to play in McDonald’s play area or in the Chuck E. Cheese ball pit.

Now… These festering dens of communicable diseases are mostly gone because of injuries and COVID.

Then… We listened to music on cassette tapes and 8-track players.

Now… People listen to music on an MP3 Player, Media Player, or streaming.

Then… School lunches consisted of macaroni and cheese, buttered corn, and Johnny Marzetti. (Johnny Marzetti sounded more like someone your parents wouldn’t let you date, than a lunch item.)

Now… Because of health concerns, lunches are “nutritionally sound” and some schools have even limited how many of those little condiment packets students can have.

Then… We went to the video arcade with a roll of quarters. (Some of the games were violent and mindless but at least there was some socialization with the other kids who were there.)

Now… Kids play violent and sexualized games on their phones without talking to anyone else for hours.

Then… We learned “the bump” when dancing.

Now… People sit on the couch and watch Dancing with the Stars.

Then… All the guys either had a Farrah Fawcett or Wonder Woman poster. The girls had Shawn Cassidy or Andy Gibb.

Now… Kids are idolizing TikTok stars and online influencers.

Then… People decorated their homes with wood paneling, green shag carpeting, and water beds.

Now… People decorate their homes with sustainable materials and micro luxury.

Then… We took road trips in the back of the family station wagon.

Now… We experience flight delays, cancellations, and sleeping on the floor in the airport.

Then… If someone wanted to bully you, they had to have the guts to come get in your face, not hide behind a screen.

Now… Bullies hide anonymously behind screens.

Then… We called time and temperature on the phone.

Now… We look at our phone to find out time and temperature.

Then… We would read the TV guide to find out what time our favorite programs were on. There was also a little synopsis about what would happen on some of the shows.

Now… We look at our phones to find out what is on TV, streaming, etc.

Then… We called radio stations, requested a song, and then got the tape recorder ready. You do that ten or twelve times over the weekend and you would have a pretty good mixed tape.

Now… We listen to our phones……

…Things sure have changed, since back in the day.