The world is a whole new place.

I remember when you had to be rich to own a television that had a remote.
Now it is inconceivable to have one without. The way I remember it I was the remote for the whole family (I was the youngest).

I remember sitting around the dinner table and actually having a good healthy meal.
Now it is common for families to crowd around the television while woofing down some form of fast food.

I remember when lunch meat sandwiches were considered a low quality unhealthy meal.
Now Subway has turned lunch meat sandwiches into a multibillion dollar industry with one on any corner.

I remember when coffee only came in two varieties cream or black and usually only one size.
Now with franchises of Starbuck's everywhere, it takes five minutes just to figure out what type I should order. Heck even McDonalds has gourmet coffees.

I remember when Supersize was not in the vocabulary. Small fries and a regular hamburger was the norm.
Now you can only get those sizes by ordering a kids meal or ordering off the value menu
.
I remember when penny candy only cost a penny.
Now you can't buy candy for under ten cents.

I remember when a nice pair of sneakers was made of canvas and had a star on the sides.
Now sneakers have evolved into shoes that practically walk for you.

I remember as a kid actually winning and loosing games.
Now it will hurt feelings if one team was better than the rest.

I remember trophies were handed out to the best.
Now you can get one for being the worst.

I remember living without fear and not having to lock your doors at night.
Now most homes have some type of security system.

I remember when someone could slip on your front walk and not get sued.
Now we have to cater to everyone and make sure they have dry pavement to walk upon.

I remember when going to be with friends didn't involve some form of computer.
Now it isn't uncommon for kids to be online for hours.

I remember the days before video games.
Now we have stores in every shopping plaza that buy and sell them.

I remember when you could actually walk home from school without worries.
Now kids have to worry about perverts anywhere.

I remember the first episode of The Simpsons.
Now it is in its twentieth season.

I remember only having 5 stations on television.
Now we have 500 and still nothing is on.

I remember when Romper Room, Sesame Street and Captain Kangaroo were the best shows for children.
Now there are so many children shows it is disgusting.

I remember when Cookie Monster would only eat cookies.
Now he finds healthier snacks.

I remember not getting every toy I wanted.
Now children have more toys than they know what to do with.

I remember when peanut butter only came in glass jars.
Now you can drop the jar and it won't break.

I remember just throwing trash out the car window as a kid and not caring about the environment.
Now everyone including myself recycles.

I remember actually getting outside and playing tag, hide and go seek, or just getting dirty.
Now parents are lucky to get the children out of the house for a little while.

I remember when there were no cell phones and you could really get away from it all.
Now I can't go anywhere without one.

I remember when made in America actually meant something.
Now many other countries have equal quality.

I remember when jobs were safe in America.
Now Chase and other companies outsource as much as possible.

I remember when you could be proud to where a Cleveland Indians or Atlanta Braves hat proudly.
Now it is politically incorrect.

I remember when having the Showtime channel meant you had to have a box on top of the television.
Now you can get Showtime along with all the other movie channels with regular cable.

I remember drinking spring water directly from the source.
Now it has to be filtered first.

I remember when going to get a drink of water meant you used the sink or the hose,
Now it means opening a bottle.

I remember Pac-man fever.
Now it's Grand Theft Auto.

I remember when Nascar on television was something special.
Now it's on 3 nights a week in some form or another.

I remember when AM stations were all you can get in the car,
Now we have satellite and Hi-Def Radio.

I remember the progression from records to 8-track to cassettes growing up.
Now its just CD's and MP3's

I remember when stealing music meant you robbed a store.
Now it just means you did an illegal download.

I remember music classes in school.
Now schools are getting rid of the classes.

I remember when you did not have to pay to play sports.
Now it costs over a hundred dollars at many schools just to be on the team.

I remember school house rock.
Now kids learn for computers,

I remember when having an IROC Z Camaro meant you were cool.
Now having a Honda Civic means your cool.

I remember being able to work on my own car.
Now you must take it to a garage to fix anything.

I remember when car engines were sized on cubic inches
Now its liters.

I remember when having a Mullet or Rat Tail was cool.
Now it just means you are a Redneck.

I remember when Chevy, Ford and Dodge were the top cars.
Now its Honda, Toyota, and Hyundai.

I remember a child's safety seat was sitting on someone's lap.
Now its a special seat that no one can install correctly.

I remember when having a Coke or Pepsi was a treat.
Now its part of everyday life.

I remember the corner Ma and Pa groceries.
Now its Super Wal-mart and Save-a-Lot

I remember cruising up and down main street.
Now kids can't afford the gas to.

I remember board games as a kid.
Now its video games

I remember cars without shoulder straps.
Now it's mandatory.

I remember when you actually had to roll down the windows.
Now you just hit a button.

I remember when going swimming meant going to the swimming hole or lake,
Now it's the overpopulated pool.

I remember the Ice Cream man,
Now they are almost a thing of the past.

I remember climbing trees and just being a kid.
Now parents are afraid to let their children do anything.

I remember when items on the stores only had one or two varieties.
Now there are 10 varieties for most products.

I remember the plain white generic packages. Especially the ones that just said beer.
Now every package is fancy.

I remember working in the garden to get the food you need.
Now gardens are few and far between.

I remember when there were wide open spaces between towns and cities,
Now it is filled with mini-malls and Wal-marts.

I remember trusting people.
Now you can't trust anyone.

I remember when people used to be polite to one another.
Now it's every man or woman for themselves.

I remember drinking soda out of glass bottles.
Now it's only in plastic.

I remember looking for bottles to redeem at the store.
Now it's off to the recycling bin.

I remember when having a dollar use to get you a candy bar, a soda and a hand full of candy.
Now it won't even buy you a soda.

I remember when saving and making money was hard work.
Now you have sites like this where you get paid to shop

I love the old times I used to have when I was younger. I was care free and the world was a much bigger place. I miss walking to the corner store and buying candy. I miss sitting out on the front porch chatting with my neighbors, I miss many friends I used to have.
It's all good I guess, things must change, we must change. Perhaps in another 20 years I will be remembering 2009.