Well, the good old days may not return
And the rocks might melt and the sea may burn – Tom Petty
Do you long for your vinyl record collection?
I left my vinyl at Mom’s when I moved out. And then a sibling took them, which was fine. By that time I lived halfway across the country. These days I am nostalgic for vinyl, but have a small library of old tapes and CDs.
On a recent brisk walk, I listened to 10,000 Maniacs on a portable CD player. I have a soft spot for them, because I heard them play at a hole-in-the wall club. It was before they were famous, when they were grabbing any gig they could get. I had no idea how talented they were until I heard them on the radio.
Natalie Merchant was singing “These Are Days” when I stopped for a tea to-go. While fumbling in my purse for change, I dropped the CD player on the floor. CRASH!
And then a very young woman burst out laughing. “Oh, a CD player! Ha ha ha ha.”
I looked at her gravely. Ha ha ha? That’s fine. I didn’t mind. What struck me as odd was that she did not pick it up for me. We had a stare-down. I am still agile, but she was more agile. As the Huff Post says in an article on manners, “If you see an older person drop something, pick it up and hand it back.”
For years polite men and women have heaved my suitcase into the overhead compartment. It is unnecessary, but I recognize their great courtesy.
So let’s get back to reality. Etiquette still prevails.
I took my tea and continued my walk.
These are the good old days. – Carly Simon
I think it is the distancing effect of people being continually online. They often need often reminding reality is real.
I’m in my seventies, but I automatically offer help to someone with a child in a pushchair at a flight of steps. Immediately all the people wearing headphones or staring at mobiles leap forward and take over. Until they see someone do something it doesn’t occur to them that they ould do it.
Yes, and people have different reactions! During Covid, an older gentleman lost control of his shopping cart and a bag of oranges spilled. I began to help pick them up but he frowned – some want help, some do not!
Yes, the electronic devices do distance us. How interesting that your example galvanizes others!