Passing

1–2 minutes

Lightfoot. Tina Turner. Al Jaffee. Pele.

Johnathan Winters.
Mickey Mantle.
William F. Buckley.
Nat “King” Cole.

Mayberry.
Omnibus.
Boris and Natasha.
Laugh-in.

Burma Shave.
Paying cards in bicycle spokes.
Hitchhiking.
Western heroes in white hats.

Cubic-inch engines.
Wing windows.
AMC.
Standard equipment.

Holding the door open for anyone.
“Thank you.” when someone holds the door.
“You’re welcome.”
“Yes ma’am” and “No sir.”

Paying cash.
Fifty-cent pieces.
Thousand-dollar bills.
Gas wars.

Re-used cola bottles.
Milk in glass bottles.
Cigarette vending machines.
Brown paper bags.

Steak and egg breakfast.
Sugar Pops.
Burger Chef and Jeff.
“Lite” was a misspelling.

Getting-back after, “I’ll get back to you.”
Handwritten USPS letters.
Lunch after, “Let’s do lunch.”
“While you wait.”

Fearlessly walking after dark.
Outdoorsmen are not “evil.”
Boy Scouts.
Double dip was an ice cream cone.

Boys and Girls and, um, that’s it.
Purple hair without an agenda.
Sailors had tattoos.
Women pierced their ears.

Trusted media sources.
Talking with your doctor.
“Bud” pumped your gas and wiped your windshield with an oily rag.
Disney was entertainment.

Seat belt? What’s a “seat belt?”
Stopping at a “STOP” sign.
55 MPH.
Give gap, take gap.

—

If not rare, gone. Sad passings, all.

Have I stayed too long at the dance?