I Remember When

I suppose I'm revealin' my age as I compose this little ditty, But as I compare costs today with yesteryear I exclaim, "What a pity!" Gas cost 30 cents per gallon and hamburger was 19 cents a pound, And a buck would atone my sins when collection plates were passed around! I remember when a haircut cost two-bits at Harry's Barbershop, And a hotdog cost 15 cents and ya paid a nickel fer a Nehi pop. A dollar twenty-five bought a lunch of meatloaf and mashed pertaters, That included a slab of cherry pie and a side of salad with termaters! It cost a quarter to see 'Gone With The Wind' at the movin' pitcher show, And fer a tub of popcorn and a coke ya needn't spend a ton of dough! Double scoop ice cream cones cost a dime and a nickel fer a candy bar. I remember that a loaf of bread cost 12 cents and a nickel bought a fine cigar! Ya could buy a suit of clothes and a pair of shoes fer twenty bucks er so, And a dime would buy ya a couple of donuts to dunk in yer cuppa joe. A postage stamp cost 3 cents and fer a nickel ya could guzzle a glass of beer, And a college education cost about 300 smackaroos per academic year! Fer about 4 bucks ya could treat yer date to a show and banana split, And later steal a smooch which would cost ya not one whit! Nowadays fer such necessaries ya must work yer fingers to the bone, And to keep apace with inflation, find a friendly banker to float a loan! Robert L. Hinshaw, CMSgt, USAF, Retired (c) 2015 All Rights Reserved