I miss the "quality" of just about everything.  I have used Rubbermaid sink mats since I started housekeeping forty-six years ago.  Since they moved to "Made in China" the stuff is junk.  I wrote to the company and they refunded my cost with coupons.  That was nice.  But still I would like to go back to quality. 

Great posts from all of you!

I’m old enough now that I finished writing my memoirs last December, giving a copy to each of my family members…even those too young right now to care much one way or another.  It was an interesting if exhausting journey, sometimes pleasurable, often painful, but immensely satisfying overall.  Many of the things you have each listed in your posts here, I remember as well, plus some that have not been mentioned, and I’ve written about several of them.  

I love reminiscing, taking that almost surreal trip down memory lane, but I’m content to leave it in the past.  I can’t honestly say I miss what used to be.  I think mostly it’s the ‘act of remembering’ that is fun, and the sharing of those memories, comparing notes with those who were there.  If I yearn for anything from the past, it would be the rebirth of basic civility.  It probably sounds strange given the enormity of the problems in our world, but I’m happier in today’s world with all of its possibilities.  

How about summer camp, hiking thru the woods, sleeping on an uncomfortable cot, sitting around a blazing campfire singing songs that we all knew, roasting marshmellows on sticks until they were black & actually eating them. Saturday matinees at the movies for a dime with a double feature plus the serial that continued each week. Rubber boots for the snow that made a red chapped mark on the back of your legs. Snow suits with leggings we had to wear in grade school. The milkman still came, and in winter the milk - in glass bottles - froze & the cream rose way out of the top of bottle. Shirley Temple  movies- we adored her.

Dang, we’re old!

But, we have lived in the most incredible era in history. Yesterday I sat crying watching our president give the National Medal of Honor to our nation’s top scientists and physicians - I had met 2 of them! What a time to be alive! http://www.cspan.org/Watch/Media/2009/10/07/Obama44/A/24039/Pres+Obama+Presents+National+Medal+of+Science+and+Medal+of+Technology+and+Innovation.aspx

What a delight reading the posts for this subject!!! I loved reading every single one of them!

By the way, I live in Michigan. The area I live in, you can find Vernors in plastic bottles as well as in cans. I have only been living in Michigan for over a year and several months ago, I tried Vernors. I thought it was fantastic and quite different from the ginger ale I was used to.

I miss Bailey’s Ice Cream Shop, Gilchrist’s (esp their macaroon cookies}, penny candy stores, all in Boston.  Drive-in theaters, i hope my kids remember the friday nites when I got home, popped corn in my five qt. soup pot.  We’d go get subs and pop and head to the movies.

 Most of all I miss the morning coffee claches with my friends, sitting on the stoop with my neighbors at night watching the kids play.  Also the wonderful family gatherings every holiday.