Oh, Those Were The Good Old Days
Friday, July 23, 2010 at 11:54AM
William Foote I seem to hear far too often people referring to the “good old days” in their daily conversations and storytelling. These “good old days” are usually painted in perfect shades of breezy blues with blooming flowers and blankets of sunshine warming the skies. There is nary a hint of gray to be found anywhere in those reminiscing the “good old days.”
The implication of course is that things were much better in the “good old days” than they are in the present day. I hate to be the proverbial booger in the punch bowl, but this line of thinking has always gotten under my skin and does not really hold up under scrutiny. It seems to me that what people are actually remembering are only the good parts of those good old days, and somehow forgetting the many not-so-good parts of those same good old days.
Tell me this. Were the days of drinking lead infused water straight from the tap really better than having dozens of clean and chlorine free bottled water options available to choose from? I mean, who needs Google when one could march down to the library and spend the day sorting through the Dewey Decimal System in search of info on their desired subject. The internet is probably just a fad anyway.
In all seriousness, I am on board with the fact there are bits and pieces of the old days that were better than present day. Whether it be a more patriotic nation or a more polite way to interact with your neighbors, there is much good to be referenced from days’ past. As an aside, I am beginning to think there is some sort of mathematical equation that states the older one gets, the more one will refer to and long to speak of those “good old days”.
I strongly believe, however, that those memories conjured from the old days get buffed out, glossed over and edited until they are just right to reminisce on and flaunt about. Remember for a moment that smoking sections on planes were the norm in the good old days and hunting down a pay phone was the most efficient way to alert someone when you were running late. I would rather leave the house having forgotten to brush my teeth than the nakedness I feel when having forgotten my cell phone, so in my humble assessment searching about for a pay phone is really not indicative of the “good old days”. And do we really want to watch our movies and sports on a 15-inch Zenith with only three channels offered in the name of the “good old days” when HD flat screens the size of your car’s windshield are available?
Speaking of cars, I love power steering, seat warmers and having my SUV talk to me when I am lost or need directions. I’m just not ready to manually roll up my car windows and use my lap as a drink holder again. This reasoning does not just apply to the tech savvy younger generation either. I mean, is there a Baby Boomer in America that doesn’t sleep a little sounder with the knowledge that Viagra is now an option if needed?
Generally speaking, it seems far too easy to toss out a blanket statement exalting what was rather than what is. I think parents in particular take comfort in moralizing to their young about a better time gone by. But I am also pretty certain that the parents of these parents preached the exact same thing. So now who to believe? Were the really old days better than the old days, or were the old days better than the really old days?
What exactly is the point here? Perhaps it is that generalizing about “the good old days” is largely non sensible and usually quite innacurate. A sharper mind would sit the good old days right alongside the smelly and progress-less days to help all that are listening better understand the “good old days” were average at best, or not very good at all.
I am not 100 percent certain of much on this winding journey through life, but there is indeed one aspect that I can state to everyone with absolute certainty, and that is at some point in the future, my own old days, which are actually present day, will evoke some wistful nostalgia infused point of view leading me to speak of, and tell stories to my children about, how great it was in the “good old days.”