I had one of those violent-shove-into-reality experiences today. The scene: an off-site visit with two co-workers, each of whom is slightly (less than 8 years) younger than I. While off-site, I saw a t-shirt that read, “You might be older than dirt if…” and then proceeded to list several items, a few of which I will share with you now.
- You remember candy cigarettes
- You remember soda pop machines that dispensed glass bottles
- You remember S&H Green Stamps
Now, there were others on the list that I recognized, and probably half of the list meant nothing to me.
As I laughed and thought out loud about my fond memories of getting busted with candy cigarettes, buying glass bottles out of the JMM pop machine, and the books of Green Stamps my mom collected, my co-workers looked at me with a combination of sadness and pity.
They had NEVER seen a glass pop bottle?! They didn’t know about Green Stamps?!?! Imagine trying to explain Green Stamps to someone who is too young to remember wooden nickels or the Brady Bunch episode where the boys want to use the Green Stamps to buy a canoe and the girls want to buy a new oven, but they learn to compromise and buy a new t.v. It’s almost impossible!
So, here’s my theory: the generation gap lies somewhere between 1977 and 1979. Both of my co-workers were born in 1981 and they had no idea what I was talking about. As further evidence, I recall a friend born in 1980 who stared blankly when I told him about vinyl and record players and just last week I had someone ask me, “Airplane? Is that like a movie or something?”
Help me out, internet loves… Was it all really that long ago?
4 comments:
Well I feel I must say, as someone born in 1974, I don't remember green stamps or glass bottles and I think candy cigarettes were around when I was an embryo. So, clearly YOU are older than dirt while I am still young, or maybe in Utah they breed you all older than dirt. wink
I have a new theory: Maybe in Utah we are bred older to prepare us for being married with children so much younger.
And Duchess, I would NEVER expect someone as Fancy-Pants as you to remember Green Stamps. They were so bourgeous. ~smile
Ouch! I was born in '85 and I remember everything but the green stamps...except the fact that I saw they same Brady Bunch episode on TV last week! (A. Channel 7, B. I only get 6 channels and I gotta watch something!)
In fact, I was in a little town called Beryl last week, and they are still selling candy cigarettes! They do exist!
While I don't believe myself to be older than dirt...maybe I'm wiser!
-your favorite youngest cousin!
Beryl... I can only think of a couple of reasons to be "in" Beryl. One involves in-laws and gasoline, the other is the result of poor navigation. (Of course both might involve a great deal of alcohol)
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