Reed's Remember Watching Thunderstorms

Remember when you used to sit and watch thunderstorms? The flash of lightning, boom of thunder and the calm of falling rain! I could sit for hours and be lost in God's summer fireworks. To this day, the wonder still mesmerizes me and brings back that childhood rush.

My children are leary of big storms. It is different experiencing the storms through their eyes. When my son was real little, we lived in the Pacific Northwest where thunderstorms were quite rare. One lucky day a storm hit and we sat on our porch with him in my lap. It was amazing. All we did was sit there, watch it rain, blink with the lightning and count the seconds till a thunder clap. He thought it was incredible that I could tell how far away the storm was. My daughter can sleep through the loudest storm, but can't get to sleep if it starts to rain right at bedtime.

Storms still bring them running to their mother or me, knowing they'll be safe by us (that childhood comfortable feeling is a whole different Reed's Remember When). They have not gone past the fear and stepped into the awesomeness of it all ... but soon they will.

So next time you hear the roll of thunder, stop and listen - watch. Grab your children, a blanket and sit on the porch. Tell them how far away the storm is ...

Reed's Remember Five & Dime Stores

Remember when your mom used to take you to the 5 and 10 (five and dime)? When I was knee high to a grasshopper I remember going downtown to the five and dime on Main St. You know the stores and I'm sure you have a special memory of one.

Going in the store you would feel it was a place your Grandpa used to visit. The old display cases of glass with wood frames, the wood planking floor, jars of candy and the toys in the back. Remember hearing the ka-ching of the cash register (vice beep beep)? It had shoes, toys, bolts of cloth and more. Mine had a loft area you could go up into and find more treasures. Ah, I remember that store and being in it with my mom.

Today, there really is no equivalent in most places you live. So it is hard to relive that experience with my children. But, I've found something close. The local hardware store that still has nails in bins and you buy them by the pound! There's even dust on some items probably older than me. They have everything.

I take my kids in there and it is great. I'm looking for that certain 3/4" shut-off valve and they're looking at all the old knick-knacks. They find mini flashlights, small pocket knives, key rings, little key chain hooks and more. I hope they remember that store.

So, next time you're out and about in a small town, stop in the old hardware store. If they have a five and dime you've hit the jack pot! Stop in and say I remember when ...

Reed's Remember 5 cent Movies

Remember when you could go to a movie and get a Herhsey's candy bar for 5 cents? Well, neither do I. But I remember my father telling me he would go to downtown South Bend, catch a movie for 5 cents and get a Hershey's candy bar. This simple father & son discussion taught me some valuable things.

One, it was a chance to learn about my father's childhood. Two, the value of money over time. Can you imagine getting out of the movies today for under $10 for just yourself? Three, looking back now, I can still enjoy the excitement of a movie, just like my dad. How many things can you enjoy that your dad did? Plus, with my own kids, we can share the experience of a new release, popcorn and a soda (pop, Coke, or Pepsi depending of which part of the country you're from).

So, if you get a chance, ask your father what he remembers about going to the movies as a kid. Or, tell your children about your adventures at the movie theater. My son thinks it is pretty cool I saw the original Starwars (Episode IV) when I was a kid at the theater.

Go enjoy a movie, you'll be glad you did.

Reed's Remember Putting Things Back

Remember when you would be in a store and the shelves, aisles, and displays were mostly straight and neat? Remember being told to put things back where they belong? Recently, while in two different stores (grocery and large discount stores), I found many things thrown back on the shelf, shoved here and there down every aisle. What is it about people who can not walk four aisles over and put the Crunch Munchies back with their brother and sister bags of Crunch Munchies vice stuffed next to the Preparation H.

Today, I was shopping for birthday cards, and lo and behold, it looked like someone decided to restack all the cards in different pookas (aka small storage rack, area, or slot) than the one it belongs. When you pick up a card and do not like it, put it back in the slot where it came from. Is that too much to ask?

It seems in our hustle and bustle world, people do not want to take the time to put things back where they belong. Borrow your co-workers stapler, put it back on their desk. Your child grabs a toy off the shelf and you find it in your chart, take it and put it back where it goes. You all get the idea, put it back where it goes, the way it goes.

Oh one more thing, those carts in the parking lot scattered everywhere. Put them back in the cart corral or take it back inside the store. The walk will do you good.