Here are a few reasons, in no particular order, why my childhood of the early/mid 70s was better than the present:

1) Kindergarten - This was when "school," my ONLY "responsibility," consisted of two or three hours of playing with other kids, listening to stories, singing songs, gluing macaroni onto outlines of alphabet letters, eating a snack, and taking a nap.

2) Going with Dad to the barber shop for a haircut.

3) The distant clanging of a bell, which signaled that the snowball truck was on its way up the street.

4) Frank's Whip

5) That cute little blonde girl, with the big brown eyes, who was my kindergarten "girlfriend."

6) "Neighbor" meant more than "someone who lives nearby."

7) Spending my birthdays with Dad, on his boat.

8) Playing in the stream out back.

9) Mom's spaghetti.

10) TOYS TOYS TOYS

11) Having two Christmasses:  At home in the morning, and the rest of the day at the grandparents'.

12) My alarm clock:  This consisted of, at around 6am each morning, courtesy of a car-less neighbor, about ten minutes of intermittent taxi horn (the really LOUD kind), followed by Dad's voice shouting "Ay, shove 'at horn up yer ass!!"

13) I hadn't yet discovered stupid hicks.




That's about all I can think of for now.  I might add some more later


A side-note to Tammy:  Please notice that I've numbered the list this time.  You're welcome.