The above pictured Corona is older than me. Not by much, because this is a 1968 Corona. Unlike me, when this car was new it had 90 BHP and would (theoretically) do 90 MPH. Maybe it would with the standard “four on the floor.” I can assure you no conventional automatic transmission paired with a 90 BHP engine will do that unless one is traveling downhill with a hefty tail wind. If only Toyota had discovered the wonderful benefits of treating their body panels with rust preventative processes before 1988, there might still be some of these around here in Ohio. The drivetrains on these old beasts would last forever. Sad thing is, today when one says “Corona,” it is usually in reference to an overrated Mexican beer. Then again, I am biased because I simply don’t care for any kind of beer. It all tastes like ear wax smells.
Yuk.
In some respects there isn’t a whole lot lingering around that is older than me, at least things that haven’t been demolished, renovated or added onto. That’s difficult for me in terms of appreciating architecture because I am very much a purist and I hate to see modern junk tacked onto beautiful old façades, windows bricked over, or lovely varnished woodwork painted over.
I understand today that nobody cares about the aesthetic in architecture- function is all that matters, even though that has led to the proliferation of churches that look like pole barns and houses that look like cardboard boxes. The schools that were torn down in the 1990s were replaced by prefabbed monstrosities that are reminiscent of prisons. It is wrong to warehouse children in such bleak surroundings devoid of light and beauty, but in a way it’s “right,” if you think about what’s going on behind those walls.
Today’s schools are little more than holding cells to help prevent the kiddies from shoplifting, battery and assault during the daytime hours. Their minds are being filled with feel-good garbage while their parents are out scoring drugs and creating more children they can’t support and refuse to educate. There is a sad irony in this only in that today’s educational system is all about political and social indoctrination and not about critical thinking or aspiring to something beyond one’s self, but I digress. The dumbing down of public education was just beginning when I was in elementary school. I dare say that the quality of public education will not improve until every person who cares about his or her offspring’s education refuses to enroll them in the public schools.
I can appreciate the beauty of a Gothic cathedral, though I admit I seldom have time to seek out a time for prayer and solace in one.
If I ever make my way to England, I will have to check out the Canterbury Cathedral.
I know it’s dangerous to wax nostalgic, especially because not everything was better in the “good old days,” but there are some things from 50 years ago (not necessarily the old Corona pictured above) that might have been worth keeping around.
Penny candy is a good example. Especially those wax cola bottles with the mystery liquid inside. Or candy cigarettes. Political correctness be damned.
Then again, the fact that candy is significantly more expensive keeps me from being tempted to indulge in it.
Of course, music. My playlists pretty much end by 1985. There are a few notable exceptions, but for the most part, there is not much beyond Steve Perry.
I like remaining under the radar on my birthday. It’s kind of fun to just observe the day quietly. Every day that Obama is NOT president is a good day. Sort of like it’s a good day when I’m remaining vertical and still sucking up valuable oxygen. Been doing that (more or less) for 50 years straight now.
In some ways it’s hard to come to terms with being 50 years old. There are days in which I feel like a piece of ancient history, and others when it doesn’t seem that long.
I’m old enough to know that there is no such thing as permanence- at least not in this lifetime. Entropy is alive and well in this world.
Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose…
ELYSIANHUNTER, ALWAYS INCITEFUL: 