Most have heard the saying, "The more things change the more they stay the same." My best research effort suggests the proverb's origin is traced to French novelist, Alphonse Karr (1808-1890). In any event this pithy cliche' remains today. That said, I'm not 'sold' on its validity.
It is reasonable to conclude that one whose life has touched nine decades has certainly witnessed 'change.' Many of those changes did not hint that 'things stayed the same.' Just off the top of my grey head, I would offer a couple of scenarios where change was indeed...change!
1. Church: The invention of air-conditioning has made it difficult for preachers to have parishioners
motivated when asked to "Come forward and find redemption." Back in those pre-AC days, I
remember sitting in a hot muggy church through a hell-fire-and-damnation sermon while trying t
keep cool waving a hand fan upon, which a local funeral home logo was promptly displayed.
Great prop and motivation, I'd say.
(The only thing that remains the same at church throughout the decades...got to arrive early to get
those good seats in the back.)
2. School: Once upon a time there was patrol boys who stopped traffic for us so we might cross
a not so busy side street. That program helped us identify teacher's pets. Once upon a
time, we placed our galoshes and coat in a cloak-room. A room also used for the paddling of a
misbehaving student. No more patrol boys, no more paddling and no more cloak room.
(What stays the same? Bad bad behaving students who need a whack on the butt!)
3. Parenting: Most kids in my adolescent-laced neighborhood came home from school where they
were greeted by a mother. Today, we have a 21st Century reality. Mother's and Father's may both
pursue a profession and many families need a dual income. This is not an indictment of modern
day parenting but it most diffenitely points to irreversible change with consequences and needs for
supportive services. (What remains the same? Children in formative years needing guidance.)
4. Dinning Out: Once the dinning out experience was tethered to a 'special' ocassion i.e. a family
celebration or once-in-awhile treat. These days notes restaraunt parking lots stretch to limits most
any week-day evening. Perhaps this phenonemon can be attributed to busy work schedules and or
overbooked youth activities. (Gotta eat something somewhere.)
5. Medical Care: Used to have family doctors who made house calls and even delivered babies at
home. No family doctor is coming to your home in 2019, but you can walk to the corner 'Prompt
Care' facility and get that antibiotic, tentinus shot or X-ray. Most likely within a stone's throw
from Prompt Care you'll find a choice between a Walgreen's or CVS to fill your prescriptions.
(What remains the same? 'Sickness.')
6. 'A Dog's Life: My dogs yesteryear ran the neighborhood, seldom got a bath and never met a
groomer. My dog's life finds him sleeping in my bed, going on vacations with us and having
dental extractions costing $1,100.00. (That which stays the same is my love for my pups.)
7. 'Service:' once defined as "an act of helping or doing work for someone." That sounds like a
wonderful idea; an idea that fizzled when corporate America discovered how foolish is the
General public. We now go to 'convenient stores and do work before or after we spend money.
We get to check ourselves out, pump our own gas and clean up our mess after eating.
(Tipping @20% remains.)
8. Movies & Imagination: Less often required. Gory murder scenes, double-take sexual
scenes and violent explosions leaves little to one's imagination. (Remains the same is our desire
to visit the concession counter; make sure you have your 'plastic,' you will note greater change.)
9. The Cost of Soda: "Pepsi-Cola hits the spot, 12-full ounces that's a lot; Pepsi Cola, the nickel
nickel drink for you." That was the 1946, jingle. That can of Pepsi is jo longer 12-ounces and
no longer 5 cents. (What remains the same is the goodness of Planter peanuts poured into Pepsi.)
10. Now,,here's one thing that NEVER changed but always sounded like a man singing from his heart.
(Touch)
Don't Change
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