Things an old man misses

Even although I am but an aged whiff of flatulence, I would in no way go so far as to counsel that daily life 50 or 60 years ago was better than it is currently.

Too quite a few variables at perform. Far too lots of apples to oranges.

But I can say that there are absolutely some things I sorely miss out on from individuals prolonged ago decades, items that designed lifetime at minimum a little far better.

How about?

Coke in 6-ounce glass bottles

Component of the joy in having a Coke when I was a youngster was the realization that when served in so compact a container, each and every swallow of that sweet brown cola was totally precious.

And even even though the legislation of physics may possibly not back me up on this one, a Coke in a glass bottle merely preferences significantly better, significantly crisper, much sweeter than does a Coke encased in either plastic or aluminum.

Of system, I could also mention that the Cokes in those 6-ounce glass bottles ended up designed with genuine sugar alternatively than the mysterious and fats-inducing superior fructose corn syrup.

Full-services gasoline stations

No, they weren’t identified as comfort retailers or mini-marts or whichever. They have been called gasoline stations or, in my neck of the woods, filling stations.

The principle was basic.

You pulled up to a pump and popped your hood latch.

A smiling gentleman in a uniform would appear out and question, “Whaddya need to have?”

If you could manage it, the chosen response was, “Fill ‘er up.”

Which the attendant would do. But although the fuel was pumping, he would also check out your car’s oil and cleanse its windshield.

Again, I think it was called, “service.”

Although I’m on the subject matter I must also admit that I sorely pass up the price that I compensated for gas back when I first commenced driving — 37 cents for each gallon. Now 37 cents would not moisten the base of the tank.

Box scores in the paper

A photograph of contentment from 40-plus many years in the past?

Me, a scorching cup of black espresso in my hand and the sports portion turned open up to the baseball box scores.

Who obtained the hits! Who blasted a property operate? How did that male do who was with the Braves last year but is now laboring in Cleveland?

Story carries on

The box scores informed you almost everything you needed to know. And, as Ernie Johnson utilized to say on Braves radio quite a few several years ago when a bloop hit fell in shorter correct field, “It’ll seem like a line generate in the box score tomorrow.”

Sunday batting averages

The identical newspaper that brought you the box scores 7 days a week also incorporated in its Sunday edition the hitting figures and the pitching stats for every single key leaguer who skilled with plenty of at-bats or plenty of innings pitched.

The stats had been in lengthy rows, organized from most effective to worst, so you see precisely how Hank Aaron in contrast to Frank Robinson or Phil Niekro to Tom Seaver.

And certainly, I know all of these stats are available on the world-wide-web 24-7. But that is just not the similar as keeping them in your hand at the breakfast desk.

And at last,

No daylight conserving time

North Carolina went on daylight conserving time again in the spring of 1968.

Till I grew older, I thought that was the finest selection ever.

Summer season evenings when the mild lingered until 9 p.m. offered a lot more time for playing baseball, driving bikes, just remaining outside the house.

Now, I want it would get dim just so I can go to bed. Since I’m awake as soon as the sky commences to brighten properly in advance of dawn and once the eyes come open, no a lot more slumber for me.

Also, I adore to get pleasure from the views of the stars and the planets in the night sky. I can do that at 6 p.m. in December but the sky does not definitely darken in June right until practically 10 p.m.

My wish is that when we “fall back” in November, we under no circumstances spring forward once more.

Such are an outdated man’s laments.

Nonetheless I wonder, even as I produce this, what it is my small children will overlook from their youth when they are pushing 70.

Don’t know what it will be, but when they way too are aged whiffs of flatulence, I’m guaranteed it will be one thing.

Bill Poteat may possibly be arrived at at [email protected].

This write-up initially appeared on The Gaston Gazette: Life may possibly have not been better 50 a long time back, but some items had been