COME ON DOWN MEMORY LANE...

Do you remember:

• When a loaf of bread cost 16 cents?

• When a gallon of gas was 18 cents?

• When a bottle of coke was 5 cents?

• When a pack of cigarettes was 16 cents?

• When Smith Brothers cough drops were 5 cents?

Do you remember when air at the gas station was free and they cleaned your windshield?

Do you remember that Sunday was dress up day for church and visiting family?

Do you remember when on the Sunday car trip, you brought along bottles of water in case the care overheated which it generally did?

Do you remember before TV everyone sat around watching and listening to the radio for their favorite programs;    "Fibber Magee and Molly", "Gabriel Heater", "Amos and Andy" and the "Green hornet" and "Inner Sanctum"?  I guess this was practice for when TV came, we could sit around and see what we were listening to.

Remember when there were certain men in our lives who delivered our necessities, the ice cream man, the milk man, the coal man, the bread man, and the insurance man who came around once a month for that insurance policy?

Remember when families sat together at the table for the home cooked nightly suppers - no TV dinners or fast food take-outs?

Remember when you prepared your boat for the summer season, scraping, caulking, and in some cases, filling her hull with water to swell up the planks so it didn't leak?  Also painting the bottom with copper bottom pain that had to be brushed on because there were no rollers.  Remember when mahogany was the wood of choice, (now replaced by teak) that had to be sanded, stained and 4 coats of varnish to make it look beautiful.  Remember the smell of turpentine to clean all the brushes, no latex based paints?

Remember the winter covering; heavy lumber for framing, heavy canvas for the winter  cover, no shrink wrap or poly vinyl covers?

Do you remember when and why you joined the United States Power Squadron?  Probably you joined to learn how to operate and enjoy your boat safely.  By taking Power Squadron courses you have learned all the rudiments of seamanship, navigation, engine maintenance, advanced piloting, weather, marine electronics and primarily ---SAFE BOATING!  We have formed a bond and camaraderie which we share on and off the water with other boaters.

There have been many changes over the years, mostly for the good.  This jaunt down memory lane may be part of our experiences or our parent's experiences.  They always talk about "those were the good old days" but the one thing that hasn't changed are the goals, standards, bonds of camaraderie, ambitions and purposes of the United States Power Squadron.

The one thing that you cannot buy in life is experience!  you are learning from the experiences of others which can save a lot of time and grief.  This is what learning is all about.  These are the goals of the United States Power Squadron; sharing other members' experiences to teach and help each other.  It is my plea to all members to get involved in some way to accomplish this.  Remember my favorite saying, "You don't stop learning because you are old, you get old because you stop learning!"

Do you know that the word "TIP" originated in Revolutionary War times when a box was placed outside the front door of a Pub.  The words above the box were To Insure Promptness.  Based on what you placed in the box would determine the service you would receive.  Today we TIP after the service.  So now you have learned something new today.  Enjoy the summer of safe boating and good health.

 

Your Commander,

Rocco E. Fuschetto