Reed's Remember Rotary Dial Phones

Remember rotary dial phones? You know what I'm talking about. Those things that used to hang only on the kitchen wall and were the size of Kleenex boxes. They came only in ivory or black, had a handset that hung in a wishbone cradle and the cord reached one foot shy of anything you needed.

Ah, yes, that familiar ring tone - metal on metal (and I don't mean AC/DC or Black Sabbath). Inside that plastic wonder was a metal clacker hitting a metal bell activated by a transformer the size of today's cell phones. To dial you would take your index finger (either right or left, it came ready to use for lefties or righties), place it in the hole corresponding to the first number to dial and rotating it clockwise until it hit the finger stop. You'd hear that ch-ch-ch as it traveled back. Whew, one number down and only six to go (if it was local).

Some of you reading this may remember when you had to pick up the handset, wait for 'Mabel' to come on line and then ask for BR-549 (whose famous number is that?). Your conversations most likely were not private since your mom and dad had a 'party line' (this was not a 'party' line 1 900 call for those reading under 30).

Recently while channel surfing with the remote I happened across MTV. The show featured a group of teenagers that were living in a house totally furnished with items from the 70's. Black and white TV w/rabbit ears, no microwave and wall-to-wall shag carpeting! AND, guess what, a rotary dial phone. They were pretty sure it was a phone, but didn't know how to use it.

So, next time you reach for your cell as you are driving, remember we all lived with a phone that only reached three feet and still managed to stay in touch with everyone that mattered. So until next time - 6 (ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch) 3 (ch-ch-ch) 4 (ch-ch-ch-ch) ...

Reed's Remember the First Day of School

Remember the first day of school? You know, the summer is 'officially over', your vacation at the beach is a memory and your mom just bought you a pair of pants that are NOT what everyone else is wearing. Bittersweet is the feeling as the first day nears. What happened to Troy and Scott, your best friends, over the summer? As you got older, would the girl of your dreams remember your name (nope, oh well there's next year)? Only the first day will answer the questions.

So much preparation goes into this day. Mom took you to the local discount store (or K-Mart), or if you were lucky L.S. Ayers. You picked out new pants, a few shirts, underwear (nothing with Superheroes), and maybe even a new pair of Chuck Taylors (do you remember those?). You'd pick out a new 3 ring binder, pocket folders, a zippered plastic pencil/pen holder, new number 2 pencils, and those little erasers that fit on the end of the pencil. Oh, yeah, how about getting that new lunch box? It was metal, came with a small thermos and had Scooby Do on it (or Batman & Robin, G.I. Joe).

Today, things are not so different. Instead of lunch boxes, it is the cool backpack. It must have extra pockets, MP3 slots, be large enough for that folder and fit the new lunch box with the ice pack. My daughter still wants the jeans with butterfly embroidery and a pink belt.

Now, as a parent, my wife and I view the first day of school in a whole new light. Our kids are getting older. Each new school year brings new friends, new teachers and new trials for both them and us (plus some much needed free time for my wife). But, it is good to see them grow and mature.

So, when you see the big yellow buses or the Safety Guard at the cross walk ... smile and remember your first day of the new school year.

Reed's Remember Feeling Safe

Remember being little and having that 'All in my life is safe' feeling? You know, being with your parents and they took care of everything? There was food on the table at dinner time, clean clothes to wear to school, and the monster didn't dare come out of the closet once dad inspected it.

I remember being little and riding in my parents car. It was a 1972 Chevy Caprice Classic with a bench seat in the front (remember those?). The back of the front seat in the middle had a worn spot from my knees since I was always right up against it looking at where we were going. Today, I wouldn't dream of going anywhere without everyone buckled up. But back then, I had complete and full trust that my dad wouldn't hit anyone or let us get hit.

How about the children curiosity factor? Dad, why do crickets chirp? Mom, where does chocolate milk come from? My folks always had the RIGHT answer. Today my children ask those questions, and in their eyes, my wife and I are the world's biggest encyclopedia (how many have those on the bookshelf at home anymore - oh well, different Remember When)!

As we grow older, that comfy safe feeling is lost. We worry about paying the mortgage, whether our children get enough calcium or is my butt too big (couldn't resist that question). As I look back, my parents did a wonderful job giving me that 'warm fuzzy feeling inside.' I hope I'm doing the same for my kids.