How I Used to Remember Better

"How I used to remember the good old days." "Yet they were not all "good days" nor were they all "bad days either."

"I remember when the stamp was only a penny." "I remember when you could leave your front door unlocked at night, and mostly all day."

"I remember all the times when the ice was brought to your house by a wagon, then by a truck along with your milk and eggs."

"I remember when things were simpler, and they were made with care." "I remember when people had to stand in lines, long lines that went on for blocks, just to get food from various businesspeople."

"I remember when you had to save all your returnable bottles to turn them in for cash." "I remember when the kids went outside to play and made-up games to play so they would never get bored unless there were lots of stars out in the night sky."

"I remember being the last in line to be asked to play on one team or another of baseball, or kickball, or any kind of sport that was happening at recess." "I remember when the kids would poke fun at me for wearing the same clothes to school more than one time."

"I remember when to get to the county hospital, it was at least 10 or more miles away and if you were poor, then it was in a wagon that transported you there."

"I remember when most all the grades that you attended in school were in a single roomed schoolhouse." "I remember you would stay there until you graduated or decided to drop out of school, or if you had to work on the farm or remain home to help out with chores." "I remember when I was in the fifth grade, I got sick, so I was unable to attend school, but I was able to return to school finally and make up for all that I had missed out on."

"I remember the times when we barely had enough to eat but we never starved." "I remember when the clothes that you were wearing at the age you were possibly might be the hand me downs if you had older brothers or older sisters, depending on the age you were and what your mother could make and remake out of the older siblings clothing, by the time they made their way down to you."

"I regret not ever being willing to look out better for life itself." "I regret never having made a better homelife for my wife and children, before they were lost in a blazing fire, in early 1887." "I regret all the many regrets that I had the opportunity to bypass each regret with the simplest of answers, NO!!!."

"I regret not paying more attention to years that passed by so quickly and quietly, while I was still younger and able to make do with the smallest of things given to me and that I was blessed with."

"I remember homemade ice cream and homemade lemonade." "Both being sweet and tangy." "I remember the days in summer working in the garden, tilling the soil to plant more seeds for things to grow and to eat." "I remember working on the farmland that was part of what we consumed and part of what we sold for money to live on."

"I remember living through 2 World Wars, the first one I was too young to fight in, since I was only 4 years old." "The Second World War I went to fight in, but was hit with some shrapnel, in my left leg, and lost it." "I remember being welcomed home after I arrived with my mother and my father giving me hugs, just to let me know they were proud of me, and they were thankful for my safe return home."

"I remember that very war took the lives of most of my closest friends and school chums." "I remember the town was never the same after the war was long over and the changes that happened were subtle and indifferent." "I regret never having been able to fight more in that very war but was blessed with the lady who would eventually become my wife and give me five children."

"I remember the years of happiness and of sorrow and pain." "I remember the times of plenty and the times of less than plenty." "I regret the times I tried too hard and never got accomplished what I had in mind at the time to complete."

"I remember that first time I learned to ride a bicycle that was shared by my older siblings and was passed down to me." "I remember the moments when each of my siblings announced they engaged then marrying."

"I regret never showing them more how much I loved them and how much of them being in my life was always appreciated." "I regret being such a problem child to my parents and not listening more when they shared their wisdom and advice, having already gone through all that I was coming upon or about to go through."

"Oh, how I remember that my life would only be lived by me, and I would always have memories to comfort me and regrets to keep me guessing about what might have been."

"I remember the day came when I too was carried away in a casket, that had been chosen for me long ago." "My present regrets will be buried with me and will lie with me as they lower my body into the cold ground." "What I remember now is nothing more than faded or fading memories that will disappear, evaporating in the air like a fine mist."

"As I leave, may you know that what you remember about me is what you were told or what was mentioned about me or even spoken about me by one or more people."

"In conclusion, may you know that my memories belonged to me and so you should then make your own." "To try and copy my memories will only break your heart that much more." "And sadness and tears will be the things that I will regret that I remembered most of all."