I recently read an article that sent me back in time. It mentioned some of the things that I remember, but young people today will not know about. Let me say here that I have watched numerous changes take place – so many that I cannot touch on all of them.

I remember young people coming into the fair office to use the phone to call home for a ride. That in itself is something that never happens any more. Now all of the young people have cell phones. At that time no one or very few had cell phones so it was necessary to use a land line to call. They would look at the phone, then ask how you dialed. You see, the phone we had was one of those rotary dial ones where you stuck your finger in a number and pulled it. That made the people in the office laugh since we had all grown up with that type.

Next comes some of the things that you have to put money in. Today all young people have to do is swipe a credit card or simply flash it by the machine. You used to have to put money in a pay phone. I recall not having enough change to be able to call home when my father-in-law was at the hospital. The nurse on the floor let me use the phone.

You used to have to put money in a gumball machine to get a round piece of gum. You could also get some candy this way. Then, there were vending machines for candy bars, chips, soda, and coffee. Incidentally, the coffee that came out was terrible. I preferred to wait until I could go to the gift shop for some.

If you wanted to hear music, you put some coins in the juke box. Usually, you could pick more than one song. There were even small boxes on each table to choose music. You moved some sheets to pick the music that was available. Juke boxes were pretty. They were decorative. For a quarter I think you got three songs. If we were with a group of people, they took turns putting money in to continue hearing music.

I also remember putting money in to play skeeball. Other similar games were activated with a coin. After the fellas played softball, we went with them to a little bar that was their sponsor. We played a bowling game there.

Did you have a transistor radio? I recall saving up my money to be able to purchase one. I took it to the beach with me so I could listen to music there. It also made it possible for me to get home so I could get dressed for work on time. I went in late in the afternoon.

Did you ever drive a stick-shift car? That is the model I learned on. My mother had one of those old Chevys with the big fins. That thing steered like boat. It was impossible to turn it quickly. Of course, there was no power steering either. Since I could drive a stick-shift I was called on often to drive some guy who had too much to drink home. Someone then picked me up.

The corner stores are long gone. We used to be able to walk to the corner store to get popsicles or fudgesicles. Sometimes we picked up a grocery item for a neighbor while we were there. I remember taking my bike to the store as well. Once I broke some of the neighbor’s eggs getting my bike off the curb. She was not too upset with me.

When I was getting ready to marry, I bought some material to make myself a dress. I had made a skirt in home economics and was ready to try something more complicated. I knew if I cut it wrong, I was in trouble. I did not worry about having to rip out seams that were not sewn correctly. My mother-in-law helped me lay out the dress and pattern. Eventually, I did a lot of sewing to make a lot of my own clothes. I even made a fancy New Year’s Eve dress to wear when we went out with a group of friends. It was made out of brocade drapery material. No one was the wiser.

Holding a book to read is also passe. I did not think I would like an e-reader, but I have adjusted. It is so easy to get another book. You just click it and it is there. You can read anywhere once you have your books loaded. The books are also quite reasonable in price so that is a bonus.

I hope you will try to think of things that you used to do that you no longer do. Actually, it has been kind of fun. You can bet that most teens will not know how to do them – unless they can be accomplished on a smart phone!

Ann Swanson writes from her home in Russell, PA. Contact at hickoryheights1@verizon.net.