You know you're old when...

[Llarry]

You bought candy at a penny candy store with small change.

[M_Six]

There was a true penny candy store near the beach not far from where I grew up. My folks would occasionally take us there with 50 cents each to fill a bag.

[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by Llarry

You bought candy at a penny candy store with small change.

3 for a penny...

[tturedraider]

This thread makes me even more thankful to be “of a certain age”. I can’t believe in only three years this thread is almost 300 pages!!

I was 1 1/2 when JFK was assassinated.When I got older I used to think I remembered it. Thought that for several years. Then I realized what I was remembering was seeing videos of the Warren Commission on TV.

I remember so many of these things. Though a few of you surprised me with how far back you go. I remember gas at 23 cents a gallon. I picked out my parents’ first new car when I was five. It was still on the truck and I said let’s get that one. A 1968 Ford Fairlane station wagon in Candy Apple red. We had a/c added to it. From that point forward I was involved in most of my parents’ car purchase decisions.

I remember S&H Green stamps and Gold Bond stamps and going shopping with my mom. I remember going through the catalog and figuring out ahead of time what we could buy with the stamps we had and sometimes saving up stamps until we had enough to get a specific item my mom wanted. I remember the orange Hot Wheels tracks. I have a two inch scar on my left knee from where I stuck an X-Acto knife in it when it slipped as I was trying to cut a section of track to have a shorter piece. I had a collection of about 100 Hot Wheels.

I was at the DMV the morning of my 16th birthday and had my driver’s license by 10:00. I picked up my best friend and we drove around for the rest of the day. I remember my hands aching from gripping the steering wheel. When I started driving self service gas was 49.9 cents a gallon. My first new car was a 1965 Mustang convertible that my uncle bought me….it was a pedal car and I was 2 1/2 years old. My second new car was a 1982 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Brougham with a 5.0 liter/307 cubic inch V8 with a four barrel carburetor that made 140 horsepower.

I don’t guess Texas got the word about Madalyn Murray O’Hair, because not only did we start the school day with the pledge of allegiance, my high school had a student chaplain and we had a devotional over the PA every morning. When I graduated from high school in 1980 I had no idea prayer in school had been disallowed in 1962.

I remember the introduction of the 747….and getting things from sending in cereal box tops. That’s how I got the 747 I’m holding here. I hated Cheerios because they had no sugar, but I ate a bunch of them, because I wanted that airplane!

[cmyx6go]

tturedraider So you’re a month older than I am but I don’t remember half the stuff you do. I guess this belongs in the You Know You’re Old …. Oh wait. Never mind. Lol.

[vreihen16]

They say that the mind is the first thing to go.....

[Llarry]

Originally Posted by tturedraider

I remember S&H Green stamps

After I graduated from university, I joined the Navy and to kill the time waiting to go in, got a job as a handyman at an S&H green stamp store. Probably minimum wage.

And on JFK's assassination, that's one that is burned into my memory: I was a high school junior in Spanish class when the PA came to life announcing the event.

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by vreihen16

They say that the mind is the first thing to go.....

Who's "they?"

[vreihen16]

Originally Posted by M_Six

Who's "they?"

I think you mean Who Dat?????

[Esteban]

Someone around here says memory is the second thing to go but I can't remember who.

[3.0L]

Originally Posted by JJ 911SC

You remember using one of these...

I seem to recall a saying that went along with that type of laundry machine. Something like, "Tit in the wringer."

[Llarry]

Originally Posted by Esteban

Someone around here says memory is the second thing to go but I can't remember who.

Where?

[tturedraider]

Originally Posted by Llarry

After I graduated from university, I joined the Navy and to kill the time waiting to go in, got a job as a handyman at an S&H green stamp store. Probably minimum wage.

And on JFK's assassination, that's one that is burned into my memory: I was a high school junior in Spanish class when the PA came to life announcing the event.

Your mention of minimum wage remind me of this. My first job was sacking groceries. I made $2.10/hour. Years later during my first foray with college I worked as a bank teller and then became the vault teller. In those days Texas did not have branch banking. Every bank had only one location. The bank I worked for had a free standing drive-up building with 18 drive-up lanes. Earlier someone was talking about all the seniors coming in at the first of the month to get their passbooks updated with their interest (I was one of the tellers doing that). You should have seen our drive-up on the first and the 15th and every Friday afternoon. 18 lanes with cars 15 or 20 deep. Anyway, we had a huge walk-in vault and we kept more than $1 million in cash in our vault every day. I used to be responsible for that $1 million for $5.25/hour.


On another note, my dad lives in a senior center and I spend a goodly amount of time with him. I LOVE when they show old Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts!!! I’m so glad all those celebrities were a part of my life!! Foster Brooks anyone?


Anyone remember when every car manufacturer had some version of a red, white, and blue car in 1976?

[Prossx]

Originally Posted by tturedraider

A 1968 Ford Fairlane station wagon in Candy Apple red.

I was at the DMV the morning of my 16th birthday and had my driver’s license by 10:00.

Parents has a 68 Fairlane 500 coupe, 390 4V (not the police intercepter), Acapulco Blue Metallic/matching interior. Thought I'd get it in high school but parents sold it fearing too much power and shitty gas mileage. Was pissed.

Same re: DMV, but late January, it snowed and my mom plowed into a new Jeep Cherokee when we couldn't stop at an intersection in our crap-tastic 77 Mercury Monarch 302 2V, w/ crome bumper that caved in the Jeep's bumper and didn't leave a scratch on our Detroit iron tank. Haha. Great memories and its interesting how these fuel our preferences today - absolutely love YMB both F8x exterior (previous car) and now my G82 interior. Cheers to long life and stoke for all things automotive.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by Llarry

Where?

Here... on the forum.

[tturedraider]

Originally Posted by Slowphiveo

I said "where's the beef?" To a few of my millennials at work yesterday and they looked at me like I had 3 heads.

This one just made me think of this. My last name is Lovell. I used to say, “like the astronaut” when people wondered about the spelling. This has been true for quite a few years now, when/if I say that these days I get a completely blank stare. In all honesty I’ve pretty much quit saying it to most anyone. Even the folks closer to my age don’t remember who I’m referring to.
(btw, there is no relation that I’ve been able to find)



Another one just popped in my mind. When you refer to going to the dealership as going to the “house”. I’m going to pick up some parts at the Ford house/Buick house/Chrysler house.

[tturedraider]

Originally Posted by zgood4u

Apparently I can no longer pee on my own, catheter and a bag. The up side is at least I sleep through the night now. Doctor has to do a scope tomorrow to see what's going on now. FARK!!

Originally Posted by rwheels

Been there, done that! I say, FARK!! Seriously, should you have to do the prostate procedure (don't remember what it's called), just be very mindful of your doctor's order. Plenty of rest and pain medication, because you will be sore as FARK. I survived however.

Originally Posted by hubbahubba

TURP. Trans Urethral something Prostate... I think... I decided to stick with the pills...

Originally Posted by Esteban

I've taken medication for years, Finasteride, for an enlarged prostate. Helps a lot. No more pee problems.

Originally Posted by Littlebear

I'm very scared of pills, but the time is coming for some kind of fix.
I trust your opinion over that of the generic innernet. Thanks Esteban!

Originally Posted by zgood4u

Doctor say the prostate and kidneys are fine it's the bladder that's not emptying and that's uncomfortable as hell. Got me on Flomax right now.

Originally Posted by zgood4u

Well, after the scope this morning I'm now going in for prostate surgery. YAY!!! gotta shrink it. Double FARK!!!!

I’m 61 and I’m super thankful I rarely have to get up in the middle of the night and peeing has never been a problem. Knock on wood. I was born with an industrial strength bladder. Until the last few years I went when I got up in the morning and before I went to bed at night. It’s not quite as consistent these days. Sometimes I have to make a pit stop a couple of times during the day.

My “schedule” created a little bit of a problem when I was in the Army. They do whiz quizzes for drugs in the morning. If they didn’t catch me before I’d gone it was “sorry, I’m finished for the day”, which of course was an unacceptable answer. I’d spend a couple of hours drinking coffee and Mountain Dews so I could “perform”. Having a “bashful bladder” didn’t help. In the military they don’t hand you a cup and step into a stall to pee. They stand right there and watch you do it.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by tturedraider

I’m 61 and I’m super thankful I rarely have to get up in the middle of the night and peeing has never been a problem. Knock on wood. I was born with an industrial strength bladder. Until the last few years I went when I got up in the morning and before I went to bed at night. It’s not quite as consistent these days. Sometimes I have to make a pit stop a couple of times during the day.

My “schedule” created a little bit of a problem when I was in the Army. They do whiz quizzes for drugs in the morning. If they didn’t catch me before I’d gone it was “sorry, I’m finished for the day”, which of course was an unacceptable answer. I’d spend a couple of hours drinking coffee and Mountain Dews so I could “perform”. Having a “bashful bladder” didn’t help. In the military they don’t hand you a cup and step into a stall to pee. They stand right there and watch you do it.

Funny, you don’t seem shy.

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by tturedraider

My “schedule” created a little bit of a problem when I was in the Army. They do whiz quizzes for drugs in the morning. If they didn’t catch me before I’d gone it was “sorry, I’m finished for the day”, which of course was an unacceptable answer. I’d spend a couple of hours drinking coffee and Mountain Dews so I could “perform”. Having a “bashful bladder” didn’t help. In the military they don’t hand you a cup and step into a stall to pee. They stand right there and watch you do it.

The last unit I was in would call an alert when they wanted to do testing. I was living off base, so of course when they called an alert, the first thing you did after getting off the phone was hit the bathroom. Then get dressed and get to the base. So I'd also have to wait to be able to go again. I would ask them to please just tell me it's a piss test so I can wait until I get to the base to go. Then they could have all they want.

[Llarry]

Originally Posted by M_Six

The last unit I was in would call an alert when they wanted to do testing. I was living off base, so of course when they called an alert, the first thing you did after getting off the phone was hit the bathroom. Then get dressed and get to the base. So I'd also have to wait to be able to go again. I would ask them to please just tell me it's a piss test so I can wait until I get to the base to go. Then they could have all they want.

Before I retired from the military in 1995, the rule was that you had to urinate "under direct observation" but it was not all that obtrusive. A military forum that I monitor talks about dropping one's trousers to around the ankles these days. I suppose the one percent that are druggies continue to improve their cheating skills.

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by M_Six

The last unit I was in would call an alert when they wanted to do testing. I was living off base, so of course when they called an alert, the first thing you did after getting off the phone was hit the bathroom. Then get dressed and get to the base. So I'd also have to wait to be able to go again. I would ask them to please just tell me it's a piss test so I can wait until I get to the base to go. Then they could have all they want.

They used to do a similar thing at work. The 1st thing one does before going back into the control room is take a pee. It wasn't a surprise they were there (randomly on Tuesdays, every 6 weeks), but they would wait until you got back from your break (or chow) and them tell you it was your turn. I got out of one test as I took a late chow (about 2 1/2 hours before my shift ended) and they told me it was my turn. I went down the hall and told them I just ate and peed before going back to work, was at least a couple hours from needing to pee again and that I would explode if I had to start drinking water. They made me sit around until my shift was ending and I still wasn't ready. I offered to stay for overtime, but they didn't want to pay overtime for a pee test, so I went home.

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by tturedraider

...
My “schedule” created a little bit of a problem when I was in the Army. They do whiz quizzes for drugs in the morning. If they didn’t catch me before I’d gone it was “sorry, I’m finished for the day”, which of course was an unacceptable answer. I’d spend a couple of hours drinking coffee and Mountain Dews so I could “perform”. Having a “bashful bladder” didn’t help. In the military they don’t hand you a cup and step into a stall to pee. They stand right there and watch you do it.

We had a guy get called in from the parking lot after he had signed out. He tried, unsuccessfully, to let them know he was on his own time and couldn't be tested. He lost the argument and promptly failed the test. They told him he had to go to rehab or get fired. He said as it was an inappropriate test, he wasn't going to rehab, so they fired him and he sued. Fast forward a couple of years and the FAA lost the lawsuit and they had to reinstate him and pay him 2 years of backpay, plus interest! They scheduled him for work (we were scheduled 28 days in advance) and he showed up for his 1st shift back. He had become eligible to retire in the years he was gone so advised his supervisor that he was retiring... IMMEDIATELY!

The FAA is so stupid...