You hear it all the time, the good old days. But how do we explain them to our children. Could we express the pride and fear we had on our first day of school without Mom or Dad to protect us? When did we learn that there are losers as well as winners in the games we played as well as in life too? How about all those great times we had playing with our friends, going to the Saturday matinees and hanging out with your dog?   

    Did the good old days include your Dad with his kind instance on doing the right thing -- no matter what? Who ever heard of sunscreen? The boys sent shirtless for the whole summer and wound up with a tan that would cost us a fortune to get today. How about an ice chip from the block of ice on the ice mans wagon to suck on to cool off? Would that be part of the good old days?

    Your first date, your first kiss, your first love and your first algebra test? All were memorable events right? Graduation day (finally), maybe starting college or going into the military are they fond memories? The day you got married and later your first child and then being there for their "first" experiences. Weren't they exasperating and gratifying memories?

    Did you ever miss a meal while working or maintaining your home because you were too busy to eat? When you pass a mirror do you ponder    wistfully at your long gone youthful body?

    How about the myriad of family gatherings, the weddings, funerals, christenings, holidays, and eventually the birth of your first grandchild and guess what, you start the cycle all over.    

    So when someone asks you "what were the Good Old Days?" you can explain it quite simply. Every day of your life is part of YOUR good old days. Everyone has his or her own good old days. Many memories will be the same as yours and mine. Yesterdays were of course the good old days. Today and every tomorrow could be the good old days -- if you let them. Remember -- Today will be the good old days tomorrow.

    Write me @ Dwaffleman@aol.com