Remember when

One aspect of aging is recalling events of the past. We sometimes refer to this as reminiscing and often begins with, "Who else remembers when...?" Who else remembers when gasoline cost $0.29 a gallon? Who else remembers when we had to be home when the streetlights came on? Who else remembers when there were party lines on your telephone? Of course only those who shared these experiences could relate to them. You might have heard about these events from your parents or grandparents, but they were only stories to you and had little bearing on your life today. While many events held positive memories, there were also those that we are glad no longer hold true. I still recall air raid drills when we had to go into the inner recesses of the school in case of a nuclear attack. These events date us and provide a glimpse of what it was like to live in those days. Each generation will have its own "Remember whens." It is our way of connecting to one another and to our history. It also reminds us that nothing is forever and that this too shall pass. What are your favorite "Remember whens?" and what do they bring up for you?