Tang, Koolaide, and Sunny D

I miss the good old days. I miss....

Goody combs in the back pocket of tight Jordache jeans.

Feathered hair, blue eye shadow, and clumpy mascara.

Tight-rolled pants with five different pairs of socks layered to show each color.

Playing outside until the streetlights came on.

Riding my bike for miles and miles a day and stopping to drink from a neighbors hose when thirsty.

My mom's station wagon.

Great music.

Wholesome TV shows like Growing Pains, Who's The Boss, Family Ties, and The Wonder Years.

Sticker collections and shrinky dinks.

Piles of ten-speed Schwinn bikes in front of friend’s houses on summer weekends.

Aqua net hairspray and baby soft perfume.

Leg warmers.

The sound of a Trapper Keeper snapping closed.

Pulling off the perforated edges of computer paper.

Sharpening my pencil with a crank handle, manual sharpener.

Helping the teacher clean erasers and chalkboards after class.

Writing and mailing letters.

Passing notes in class.

Talking on the phone for hours while wrapping the coiled phone cord around my finger.

Memorizing phone numbers.

The sound of static from a record player.

Ding-dong-ditching, without the police being called.

Drinking Tang, Koolaide, and Sunny Delight after hours of playing tag with kids in the neighborhood.

Walking around the mall.

Rotary phones.

Saturday morning cartoons.

Casey Kassem’s Countdown.

Alan Almond’s smooth voice on Pillow Talk Radio.

Chasing after the ice cream truck.

Skateland.

Borrowing a cup of sugar from a neighbor.

After school specials.

Making mixed tapes for the boy you had a crush on.

Using a typewriter.

The innocence of the 80’s and 90’s.