Chapter 1: A Tale from the Past

Gather around, young ones! I have a story to share from a time not too distant. It seems like just yesterday when I was a hotshot in my prime—oh wait, never mind that.

What’s that? You’re too preoccupied with TikTok? Come here! I'm about to hit 55 and you need to show some respect for your elders! With age comes wisdom, and I promise you’ll learn something valuable today.

Now, let’s get to the meat of my story before I miss Wheel of Fortune and need to hit the sack by 8.

I understand you’ve been single for a while, and I’m here to dish out some advice. Back in my day, finding a partner was no walk in the park. We had to put in serious effort to meet someone special.

This was long before everyone had cell phones stuck to their hands or peeking out of their back pockets. You know what we carried back then? Combs. Yes, a comb for our hair. Why? Who knows! We thought it was cool.

Now, let’s get back on track before I lose my train of thought.

Ah, cell phones! What a groundbreaking invention. You don’t realize how fortunate you are to have that tiny gadget. You have your friends’ numbers stored, a camera at your disposal, and the entire world’s knowledge just a tap away!

In my day, if we needed to reach someone, we had to let our fingers do the walking.

What’s that, you ask?

We had to dig through a phonebook to find a number or memorize it.

What’s a phonebook? Oh dear, hand me my Vitamin D; I feel faint just thinking about it. This is going to take longer than I anticipated. Maybe I should grab a glass of prune juice.

If I was out and needed to touch base with my folks, I had to locate a payphone. Yes, we had to pay to make a call. They were everywhere, like dollar stores today, and cost a dime, later a quarter. Oh, inflation! And I was already paying 90 cents a gallon for gas!

Why the blank stare? You have the world’s information in that little device you’re staring at! If you want to know something, just type a word and hit search.

What? You can use your voice? You don’t even have to lift a finger? What in the world?

In my youth, my parents bought us a complete set of encyclopedias. Yes, books from A to Z! If I wanted to know about Arizona, I’d look under A; for zebras, I’d go to Z. Those were our research tools for school papers.

How did we write those papers? We didn’t have laptops! We wrote in cursive on paper, or if we were lucky, we used Dad's typewriter. Yes, I know how to type; I took a typing class. We didn’t have computers, whiteboards, or iPads. Our teachers used chalk. Oh, you saw that in a movie? Great! No need for further explanation!

Now, let’s talk about dating. We didn’t have Tinder or any swiping nonsense. We had to rely on friends to connect us with singles. We actually had to go out to socialize, visiting malls, arcades, dance clubs, parties, and concerts. We couldn’t be shy; face-to-face interaction was a must. No, video calls don’t count!

When I was in high school, I met many guys when out with friends. We had loads of fun places to explore. I’m not sure where you kids hang out now. Online? That’s not a hangout! Technically, it is, but you don’t even have to dress up for it. Don’t you want to rock your stone-washed jeans and neon sweater? What do you mean that’s not in style anymore? I wore it last week!

What? Let me adjust my new hearing aid. You have everything you need at home? I can understand why you’d think that with your laptop, Xbox, and massive TV.

What’s a drive-in? Those were magical places my parents took me to see movies—sitting in your car while watching a film, with speakers attached to the window. No, they weren’t Bluetooth! Are you serious? Some drive-ins still exist, but not nearly as many as in my day. You should experience one!

Yes, I know you can stream movies at home in high-def, but that’s not the point. It’s about the experience, the nostalgia, and connecting with others. You might not be chatting at the movies, but it's a shared experience. Oh, you can have collective experiences playing video games online? Fine, go for it.

But don’t come crying to me if you end up living with your parents at 40 because you couldn’t meet anyone. Oh right, you can swipe from home to find a date! I even had to let my Grandma set me up on a date once—imagine that!

Well, it’s time for Wheel of Fortune, and yes, I’ll be watching on my flat-screen TV in high-def, if I can figure out how to use the remote.

Peace,

Chevie

If you enjoyed this tale, you might also like:

• Our Family Bonded at the Stock Car Races
• I had a huge crush on #9

Chapter 2: Lessons from Our Elders

In this first video, we hear the wisdom of elders, filled with humor and life lessons that resonate through the ages.

The second video dives deeper into the importance of listening to our elders, capturing their unique perspectives and experiences.