I MISS …
Marc Marderosian

Xenia Gazette, OH
Aug 1 2007

Every now and then, when we have company, someone says, "Remember
when we were … and what a wonderful time it was for all of us." The
only problem is that we never knew how good those days were until
years later. Well, we had company recently and got on the subject of
"I miss…"

I’m sure that every generation can acquaint to this subject. Mine
is for those of the 1920s-1950s. They are only memories, but they
were wonderful.

I miss the elevator girls who called out all of the products on each
floor of a department store. My favorite as a child was the eighth
floor of the Famous-Barr department store in St. Louis, which was the
Toy Department, and Santa headquarters at Christmas time. I remember
my mother giving me a quarter that I handed to one of Santa’s elves
who in return directed me to a special window where you received a
Christmas wrapped gift. And those wonderful life-like window displays
on the ground floor with trains, elves working making toys, and the
Christmas decorations.

I miss dialing only four numbers when you called someone on the
telephone. I despise the current telephone automated system. I want
to talk to a live person. "You have the following menu to choose
from." You make a choice and then have to make another choice.

I miss the Saturday double feature matinees at the neighborhood
theater, with the main feature, a cartoon, news, and let’s not forget
the serial that always ended with the hero in a bad situation.

Popcorn or a bag of candy was only 5 cents. If you wanted, you could
stay and see the whole double feature again at no extra charge.

I mss the wonderful transportation system with the streetcars, buses
and as many transfers as necessary to get to your destination.

I miss the iceman, milkman, Joe the fruit and vegetable man, Fuller
Brush and insurance man. They were all like a part of your family.

I miss those wonderful radio shows with Jack Benny and Mary Livingston,
Fibber Megee and Molly, Amos and Andy, the sounds of the Big Bands,
and, of course, Mother never missed any of her soap operas.

I miss the many times that Dad could spare from his job to go fishing
along the banks of the Mississippi River. We would camp and stay up
as long as we wanted. The thrill of catching your first fish stays
with you forever.

I miss the wonderful days I spent at Mr. Meyer’s drug store with those
large malts and milkshakes. Mr. Meyer had a special triple dipper he
sold on Saturdays for 10 cents. What can you get today for 10 cents?

I miss the many picnics at Chain of Rocks and Forest Parks. The BBQs,
games and the food that my mother and grandmother prepared. This was
always an all-day event.

I miss my dad’s scary stories and his singing at Armenian gatherings.

He sang the love songs that had all of the women in tears.

These are only a few of what I miss and I believe it’s important to
talk and remember them not for your self-satisfaction but for your
children and grandchildren. They should know what life was like when
you were their age.

Anyway, have a few "I miss" ones today.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress