John Sheda

The paper work is crazy; But I’m also quite lazy.

I seem so very confused; My male ego is so bruised.

The paperwork; please no more. My brain is way too sore.

Deb, the pain is too severe; Why don’t you take care of it, my dear!!

Ok, that’s the best I can do but now that I’m turning 65, my thoughts went back to the “good ol’ days.”

The days of Dave Shay, Tait Cummings and of course, Conrad Johnson. Then the TV went off.

Afternoons with Marshall J, Dr. Max and yes, even Mombo.

Cartoons on Saturday mornings only. Sky King and Penny too. Roy Rogers & Dale Evans.

Band Concerts on Wednesday nights and Hootenanny’s on Saturday nights.

Summer vacations starting with Memorial Day weekend clear until Labor Day.

NO HOMEWORK ! At least I don’t remember any, until high school.

Baseball cards put in the spokes of our bikes with clothes pins. Power now unequaled.

A telephone was just that-a telephone! Do you still remember your old number. Ours was #60, and then 489.2316

Most stores closed on Sundays. Boring old family time. Miss ’em terribly!!

Having to do chores. And Dad saying, “They better get done or else.” I felt the “or else” a couple of times!!

On rainy days in the summertime, we often had “Monopoly Game Days.” All day long!

Or, sometimes we had baseball card trading days. We all had our own stack of cards!!

Loved those pick-up baseball games. No adults needed or wanted. The number of players dictated the various rules.

Ice-skating parties in the winter time. Friday nights. On one corner of the pond, we burned several tires. Really. Loved that black smoke billowing upwards to the sky.

Ah, the good old days. No texting. Hard to believe, but we actually had very little to do with phones. No checking on them every other minute; No Facebook or Twitter; No sending photos back and forth. Surprisingly, we actually laughed, conversed, told stories, shared dreams, argued, made up…….AND TALKED TO EACH OTHER. WITH NO INTERUPTIONS. And that’s the way it was in my neck of the woods. Let me know what your world was like way back when at jsheda@indytel.com or call me at 319.327.4640. Or Facebook or twitter me. Maybe shoot me a quick text.