As I have aged, I have conscientiously avoided using the phrase, "in the good old days." Why? Because for the most part we live in the best of times. Stop please and consider: We no longer go to the creek or river to wash our clothes. We no longer use an 'outhouse' in the dead of winter. We no longer see mothers losing newborns because of complications that mid-wives were incapable of handling as do hospital personnel. Speaking of hospitals, think of the marvelous medical advancements we all benefit from in this twenty-first century. Thus you understand why I avoid that phrase, "in the good old days."
That position defined does not negate some of yesterday's nuances and mores that we'd be better off if part of our lives today. We'd benefit without 24/7 news via television. We'd be better off if we were a less mobile society...something to be said about living nearby grandparents even if you are expected every Sunday for chicken dinner. We must all agree that electronic gadgets (today) have subtlety robbed us of once-upon-a-time neighboring behavior.
The backyard games, which were once very prevalent in American neighborhoods brought the young and old together for friendly competition. Those games of yesterday, i.e. horseshoes, washers, badminton, croquet, cork ball, whiffle ball, volleyball and basket shooting have the same degree of popularity of today's church attendance...participation ain't what it use to be!
Perhaps some of those 'good old days' folkways would serve well to stem our current angry, neurotic, pill popping society and do us some good! I guess that for which I wish is for people today be as happy as people of yesterday.
(Touch)
Happy Days
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