John Sheda

I never thought it would actually happen. You know when you were growing up, the old people would tell stories about “way back when,” the good ol’ days, their surgeries, how hard they had it growing up and all the other things “old people” talked about. Well, it wasn’t too long ago, I think I joined that club. I can spot from twenty feet whether someone had knee replacement or not. You can see the “tell-tale” scar that goes vertical from above to below the knee. And then the conversation begins about surgeries, cataracts, bodily functions, (yes we discuss these things even while eating), and of course, “the good ol’ days.” And we also tell you kids and grand-kids the same stories over and over and over. They feign interest, but who cares, we love embellishing the stories of the way it used to be.

So let’s take a step back in time, maybe to a kinder and gentler era–the 50’s and 60’s.

* It didn’t happen often but every leap year or so, we would stop at an actual restaurant to eat. Do your remember McDonald’s BEFORE it was McDonald’s? It was Henry’s and the closest on I think was in Cedar Rapids. The menu was short–burgers 15 cents and fries 10 cents. That was about it. And what a treat it was. Real store bought burgers and fries. Mmm Mmm good.

Every other noon and evening it was eating at home. Mom always had two selections for us Shedas–Take it or Leave it. Quite simple really!!

Our sports outlet was baseball, basketball and football. Soccer was not invented yet, at least not yet in Chelsea.

Baseball had two leagues, National and American and no divisions within the leagues. About eleven teams in each league and the only post-season games were the World Series.

Pro football had NO preseason games and only eleven games for the season. League was divided between the AFL and NFL and the post-season game was the Super Bowl. And the first Super Bowl was played on January 15, 1967. Green Bay walloped Kansas City, 35-10. Next year it will be Super Bowl 50!! No more Roman Numerals.

On a date with my future wife in 1972, Deb and I had a taste of our very first Pizza Pie. It was deep dish and it was also in Cedar Rapids; a place called Chicago’s Deep Dish Pizza. The first bite I took burnt the inside of my mouth and the cheese slid down my chin. It was not a good impression for my date with Deb, but she endured. However my eating habits haven’t gotten any better.

Did your mom have an old Pepsi bottle with a cap on it with holes punched through the cap? Remember what it was used for? Not a salt shaker!!!!

The telephone system back in the day was something to behold. In the fifties, it was the old crank phone with a local operator. But then civilization came to Chelsea and everyone had those black rotary phones. They were always located right smack dab in the Living Room. When someone left on a trip, do you remember how you used the phones to call Long Distance without having to pay? Hmmm, maybe it was just the Sheda’s that had a secret system to find out that the person made it to their destination safely.

I remember buying those penny baseball cards, (with one stick of gum inside), and then using a clothes pin to put the card in the spokes of our bikes. Sounded just like a motor cycle!!!

So after all this reminiscing, do you also remember Black Jack chewing gum, Wax Coke-shaped bottles of sugared water, the dimmer switch on the floor board of your car, NO cruse control, candy cigarettes, King Tower booths with the jute box right there on the table, PF flyers & Red Ball Jets, (Canvas Hi-Tops), butch wax, pea-shooters, 45 RPM records, S&H Green Stamps, those metal ice cube trays with the levers, the metal roller skates you put on your red ball jets and the key to tighten them, cork popguns and of course who could forget The Drive-In Theaters.

Yep, the good ol’ days. Now what did I forget?

What do you remember about growing up in the fifties and sixties? Let me know at jsheda@indytel.com or call me at 319.327.4640. Love to hear your memories. Have a great week and keep making memories.