Things from the past that I don't miss.

[phikappa]

Most people typically feel nostalgic when talking about the past. "We had it better in those days...bla, bla, bla". Well, I don't miss much of it.

I was looking through the pics on this blog... http://www.shorpy.com/
and I'm reminded of a lot of the things I didn't like.

1) Smoking. Cigarette smoke was everywhere when I was a kid. I don't think most people under 30 today realize how prevalent smoking was. It was inescapable. When I was in college I worked for a credit card company. My boss was allowed to smoke in his office, and he'd make us have closed door meetings while he was smoking! In 1987!

2) Bullsh!t. There's still plenty of bullsh!t today, but most of it can be dismissed with a quick internet search. There was so much information hiding by shady businesses, myths that people would cling to, and urban legends, it was like a cloud that was holding you down. Always a source for an argument, too.

3) Clothing. Hard, uncomfortable shoes, and socks that wouldn't stay up. Remember garters for socks? I always thought I'd have to wear those when I got older. I don't think my grandfather owned more than one pair of shoes. He always wore leather dress shoes. Fishing, cutting wood, building a shed ----> leather shoes.


I got more, but here are some pics from the site. Anything that you don't miss?

Dad with his son at the store...smoking.
http://www.shorpy.com/node/15424?size=_original#caption


Check out the ash trays on the table. Very common for the times.
http://www.shorpy.com/node/15036?size=_original#caption


Socks and hard shoes.
http://www.shorpy.com/node/15046?size=_original#caption


More socks and hard shoes....and beer!
http://www.shorpy.com/node/14996?size=_original#caption


Football practice
http://www.shorpy.com/node/15028?size=_original#caption


Just a great pic.
http://www.shorpy.com/node/14919?size=_original#caption

[Jtbny]

"good ole days weren't always good and tomorrow ain't as bad as it seems".

I miss people from my past but that's about it. No nostalgia here.

[phikappa]

"good ole days weren't always good and tomorrow ain't as bad as it seems".

I miss people from my past but that's about it. No nostalgia here.

Are you Billy Joel?







Here's something I DO miss. The daily family meal.

http://www.shorpy.com/node/14792?size=_original#caption

[Old-Time-Lifter]

Well I do remember the smoking. Almost everyone had an ashtray ready for company even if they didn't smoke themselves. I remember plenty of guys smoking in meetings back in the 80's. Back then one honestly didn't think much about it, it just was the way things were. Not sure folks are any healthier now though we've replaced smoking with massive overeating and I think the strain on one's health is almost worse. Smoking is not only an oral fixation but it curbs appetite as well.

[gorbyak]

I was young, but smoking was everywhere. I remember being in the grocery store, the movie theater, and the hospital with people smoking in the 80's.

[drudixon]

Don't miss tvs you have to get up to change, phones with cords, or cassette tapes.

[Phattso]

I remember in the late 90s working in a large office building and smokers had to smoke outside. They mostly congregated around what was referred to as The Smoking Tree. A very large tree. The last year I was there, the tree died. I felt sad for the tree.

[phikappa]

I remember in the late 90s working in a large office building and smokers had to smoke outside. They mostly congregated around what was referred to as The Smoking Tree. A very large tree. The last year I was there, the tree died. I felt sad for the tree.

I feel sad for the tree just hearing about it! Good 'ol smokey.

[phikappa]

Don't miss tvs you have to get up to change, phones with cords, or cassette tapes.

Amen! I remember trying to record music off the radio and I'd get pissed when the DJ's would talk over the first part of the song.

[ArchAngel'73]

phones with cords

I still have one as my main land line.

[LisaSkinnoble]

Carbon paper. It always made me sneeze.

[phikappa]

Carbon paper. It always made me sneeze.

Carbon paper or mimeograph? Mimeograph was awesome.

[dungeonmistress]

I remember in the late 90s working in a large office building and smokers had to smoke outside. They mostly congregated around what was referred to as The Smoking Tree. A very large tree. The last year I was there, the tree died. I felt sad for the tree.

Do you think an iron lung would have saved him? Now there's a throwback to the past. I remember an old movie about some dude in an iron lung. As a kid, that thing freaked me out.

[SP1966]

I don't miss my wife's air-dam. Like many women in the late 80's she would curl her bangs into this air-dam looking travesty, its been gone now for a very long time thankfully!

Big hair held together by their Aquanet.

High waisted Grandma jeans.

My hair.

[Phattso]

Do you think an iron lung would have saved him? Now there's a throwback to the past. I remember an old movie about some dude in an iron lung. As a kid, that thing freaked me out.

Good idea, but it would have taken a massive iron lung for the tree to fit I remember a bunch of people leaning on it, puffing, and the poor tree didn't have any leaves or life.

Tree murder

[Bando]

Don't miss phones with cords.

I do. Drives me crazy looking for a cordless phone ringing somewhere in the house. You knew where your phone was when it was tethered to the wall.

[PervedOut]

I do. Drives me crazy looking for a cordless phone ringing somewhere in the house. You knew where your phone was when it was tethered to the wall.

That feel when getting lost in conversation with a girl and pulling the phone off the shelf and disconnecting it while walking around...

[sy2502]

The only thing I miss from the past is how easy it was to lose weight.

[DocHoss]

Amen! I remember trying to record music off the radio and I'd get pissed when the DJ's would talk over the first part of the song.

Yes!

Carbon paper or mimeograph? Mimeograph was awesome.

And the cheap little high from sniffing the freshly "printed" mimeograph pages.

Life got SO much better once they banned smoking on planes. The worst was flying to Europe and spending 11 hours in the non-smoking section one row behind the smoking section.

[LisaSkinnoble]

Carbon paper or mimeograph? Mimeograph was awesome.

No, I meant carbon. Ick. All file copies were made with carbon and I'd sneeze my head off. lol...


Now, don't tell me nobody misses the gourmet faire of yester-year...

How about a little jello with your steak?

[sy2502]

How about a little jello with your steak?

In Italy canned beef in gelatin was a very common, inexpensive dish growing up.

[DocHoss]

In Italy canned beef in gelatin was a very common, inexpensive dish growing up.

Like German sülze. My grandmother's jellied meat was delicious. So were the jellied pigs' ears my father made - sounds gross, but trust me, sliced thinly and dabbled with vinegar, it was great.

[Old-Time-Lifter]

I'll bet the smokeless tobacco execs back then thought they were sitting on a gold mine when these states started to crack down on smoking in public places...

No, I meant carbon. Ick. All file copies were made with carbon and I'd sneeze my head off. lol...


Now, don't tell me nobody misses the gourmet faire of yester-year...

How about a little jello with your steak?

Back in the 60-70's you couldn't have a home cooked meal without jello. I always hated jello dishes, with the exception of the one with green jello and shredded cabbage in it. That I liked.... LOL, don't ask me why.

[drudixon]

Like German sülze. My grandmother's jellied meat was delicious. So were the jellied pigs' ears my father made - sounds gross, but trust me, sliced thinly and dabbled with vinegar, it was great.

I like pig knuckle. Only got to eat it when I lived in Germany.

[lolakitten]

I don't miss ammonia based blueprints!!!! OMG the papercuts....

[drudixon]

Line Feed printer paper. No telling how many documents I destroyed trying to tear that sh!t off.

[silverlightning]

I don't miss being in High School having to be told when and what time to be in class. that's why I joined the Marines.

[quicksand jesus]

Broccoli and cauliflower !

[SP1966]

I like mooseknuckle. Only got to eat it when I lived in Germany.

[reduni]

I don't miss my ex-wife Surprised no one else has mentioned it.

I also don't miss smelling like an ash tray after going to a bar (not that I go to bars much anymore)