I was talking to some old friends the other day and we got into a discussion as I always tend to get in, about things that we enjoy in today’s world and things that we miss from yester year. Some of the things we missed were so simple, yet meant so much. I am always looking for a good story for Retroflections. Trying to recall people, fads, music, places, that are from our past is fun. After our discussion with my friends it got me thinking…

 I suppose no matter how hard you try, change will always happen and truth is we can’t change change and who wants to? I find life is very convenient due to changes. Why I can have my office wherever I go thanks to my cell phone. I like the idea that my cell phone does everything for me and all I have to do is download an app. I can go shopping online anytime I want because online stores never close, so I never forget anyone’s special days. I like some of the newer cars that save on gas and help our environment. Yes indeed changes are good, however, that doesn’t mean I miss what we once used to have. I miss some of the simple things.

 I am not sure what simple thing I miss the most.  I still think it is watching children play. I miss seeing kids riding their bikes in the street, or roller skating in neighborhoods. As we know they are too busy on computer games, texting and being sucked in by the electronic plasmatic mass. Still, I miss seeing the simplicity of a child playing- I mean like they used to. Kids were everywhere, now we see a spotting here and htere, but with electronic in tow.

 I realized the other day when I was trying to adjust the volume on something that I really miss analog volume knobs. These wonderful knobs gave me the ability to have fine tuning over everything. Anymore each push of the bottom means bringing it up one more designated interval, but with analog controls, you were in control.

 I miss the fact that buying new jeans meant we got to wear them out ourselves. With each wash, with each wear with each moment, our jeans became our personal imprints of who were. Blue jeans bore our soul. Now a days you buy faded torn jeans and quite honestly they look fairly silly on people.  The new jeans have holes not souls…and I miss that. I am glad we can still buy stiff blue jeans!

 I miss real TV. I am so sick of reality TV and it amazes me that we live in a society that has no life and that watching someone else’s life brings more excitement to them than enjoying their own. I miss what people could have been instead of what they have become because of reality TV. I miss people saying that was a great show last night and I loved the guest star rather than hearing did you see what Jersey Mom did?  Anymore I keep the tube on the cooking network. Making good food and good friends is good for me.

 Finally I miss some of the old fashioned toys. Sometimes using your creativity resulted in a magical plethora of imagination.  It used to be Lego’s were fun to create and build something. Now, there are so many electronics and boxes with instructions that Lego’s have become nothing more than glorified models.

 I miss the neighborhood toy store where 2 bucks could give you weeks of entertainment. Really my dad’s hankie and a strong army man made the best parachutes. Launching a .99 cent water rocket was always fun and exciting as was flying a .25 cent kite and getting a egg of silly putty in time for the Sunday cartoons. These were the simple things that two bucks could get you.

So I guess the obvious question I am going to ask you is what are the simple things you miss?