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Remember When

Remember when suburban and small town stores were closed Sunday morn?  
Remember when they rolled up the sidewalk at night at nine-thirty or ten?

Remember when the attendant pumped your gas for less than 20 cents a 
   gallon?
And when you opened the hood, you could find the gears and the trans?

Remember when a national holiday didn't mean 'beach, beer or barbeque?' 
Remember when vacations meant marshmallow roasts by a campfire 
   uplugged?

Remember when the policeman walked his beat on the street, and was
   friendly?
And that via US mail was the only way a picture postcard out-of-town could 
   you send?

Remember when a paper was a dime, baseball cards and candy bars a nickel?
Remember when fans, and players, were loyal to their teams, and not so 
   fickle?

Remember when the soda jerk in the white paper cap poured us phosphates?
And how 'bout the linoleum tiles of those diners and all the greasy French fries 
   we ate?

Remember when we danced the twist, the frug, the Freddy and the swim?
Remember when we camped outside the ballpark and near the end the 
   usher let us in?

Remember when you paid nothing for medical insurance and how much   
   it covered?
And the Doctor used his hands to examine you, then told you, without 
   ordering any tests, what was wrong?

Remember when friends and neighbors sat on the stoop, shooting the breeze
   on hot summer nights?
Remember when the sounds we heard were not gunshots, but the crickets, in 
   the moon shining bright?

Remember when we covered our hearts with our hands when the National 
   Anthem was sung or played?
And we knew the words and sang along, with a lump in our throats, and tears
   in our eyes, 'O, say...'  

If you remember these things, and they seem as precious to you as they do 
   to me,
Then make a poem of your memory ~ Capture them forever for your children
   for free.

Copyright © Gershon Wolf | Year Posted 2018

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Tom Cunningham Date: 7/4/2018 2:01:00 AM Wow, but they were better days than we have today, that's for sure. Great idea to write poetry of days gone by, preserve for future generations. Tom Login to Reply Gershon Wolf Date: 7/4/2018 12:13:00 PM Thanks for joining me in reliving the way it was, Tom … They really were better days, weren't they? … And yet, these days are our days now, to live fully and to make better … Best wishes, Gershon