8-tracks, WKRP In Cincinnati and fireflies

There are times I can be envious of the kids today. Internet, computers, cell phones that are more powerful than the space craft that took our astronauts to the moon. A billion channels on TV, more graphic, more CGI (less good writing and plot in my opinion) kids bodies growing up faster (both good and bad).

I remember the big thing growing up PK (pre-Kemper) was turning into a teen. Then it was 16 and a driver license and car. Then 18 graduating college. 21 was l e g a l drinking age.

I also remember something that has gone by the wayside; the RCA and Columbia House record club. This was a way to get your music cheap. You would send in a penny and choose 11 albums and they would send them to you. Over the next year you had to buy a certain number at regular price. They would send you a packet every month, and you had to mail back the card if you didn't want that month's selection or else it would be sent to you and you had to pay. At that time the selection was reel-to-reel, album, 8-track or cassette.

I remember my first car had an 8 track player. I believe I kept that for about 2 years before changing it over to cassette, and with the addition of some more speakers (with some help from a friend at Kemper-Temple I'm talking about you.).

8 Tracks were something that would just keep playing, were smaller than albums, but bigger than cassettes. At the time, auto re-wind and play were still not yet known.

I remember my pretty church youth teacher (who I had a crush on) had a blue Firebird with t-tops and a cassette deck. She turned me onto the more modern music (Chicago, Doobie Brothers). Some more memories every time I hear those groups.

I think back to the music, the tv variety shows, three channels and if the president was on, he was on all of them. But then I also remember playing games with my parents. Being outside catching fireflies, reading books and using my imagination-a tree house that was transformed into whatever I could imagine. I remember climbing trees, staying out until it got dark and my mom rang the dinner bell for me to come home.

So see; I do have memories not necessary of Kemper. I also believe that I lived the best of times during those. Everything made sense. The music was music. The tv shows were great. Yeah I know; I look back and think 'why did I like that?' I could, except I still like 98% of what I watched then, even now. WKRP In Cincinnati is still without a doubt one of the best. And the Thanksgiving episode... OMG. Welcome Back Kotter, the Love Boat, Fantasy Island, Love, American Style. The great thing about those times was that if you missed an episodes or were away at a military school where you didn't have TV, during the summer, they re-ran the episodes, and it was like I was seeing them for the first time!

Though I am very happy with my cds and dvds and satellite radio and tv, there is still a part of me that thinks back to those days. And I remember.