di Storytime with GamerDude
In this week's "Best Of" episode, GamerDude revisits some stories from Season 1. He talks about some superstitions that he actually believes (and some that he doesn't). He shares a story about one of his favorite words - balderdash. He talks about wasting energy worrying about things that are beyond your control. And he shares one of his favorite Halloween stories, about his exploits on "mischief night" and why he always worries about the "family jewels" on Halloween.
Eating out was always a rare treat when GamerDude was growing up. In this week's episode, he talks about the various - and different - options for eating out that he grew up with. There were lunch counters in the back of Woolworths, and restaurants in the local Macy's department stores. He talks about how those eating places gave way to food courts as stores left downtown areas to take up residence in the local malls. GamerDude also talks about how menus used to be simple, with very few choices and very limited options. This simplicity existed in diners, in restaurants, and even on the McDonald's menu, which - at first - was basically burgers, fries, and drinks. He also remembers how restaurants changed over the years. He talks about how the waitstaff took all orders by hand and how "giving you the check" at the end of the meal was a regular ritual. He talks about how smoking was standard in restaurants, and air conditioning was not, and he remembers the old "cafeteria style" restaurants that are all but gone these days. He also shares some of his favorite restaurant-related "dad jokes."
GamerDude's recent first viewing of the classic movie Taxi Driver prompted this episode about making the "good guy" choices. He talks about how society in general, and he in particular, used to focus on the good guy - Superman - as the hero in films, stories and life, and how the world has evolved to the point where now, the Joker is the hero. He talks about how Taxi Driver, one of the first anti-hero movies, and The Godfather, one of the first movies where gangsters were not shown as purely villainous, helped change society's views on "good guys" and "doing the right thing." He talks about being brought up to "do right," and revisits the story of how he found a $10 bill on the street as a kid, and turned it into the police, because it was the right thing to do. He talks about how the default of most people when he was growing up was to do the "right thing," but over time, a selfishness has replaced the willingness to do the right thing in favor of a "what's in it for me?" attitude. He talks about how doing the right thing is not always convenient, but the overall benefit generally outweighs any minor inconvenience. He talks about how this selfishness has changed society in personal, business and political settings, and how "getting away with something" is more important to some people than doing the right thing. GamerDude also talks about the satisfaction he gets simply by doing the right thing, and can't understand people who make the choice to hurt, betray or cheat others.
Long-time listeners know about GamerDude's love of language. In this episode, GamerDude talks about words that he grew up hearing, and using, that we no longer use in everyday conversation. He talks about old expressions, like "fiddlesticks" and "whippersnapper" and where they came from. He talks about words that had short but significant lifespans, like "groovy" and "phat." GamerDude also talks about words for clothes that we no longer use, from slacks and frock to dungarees and galoshes. He also talks about relationships, and how courting and necking no longer seem to exist, and "going steady" is a thing of the past. He also talks about how using words for women like "gal" and "broad" have largely fallen into disuse, and how calling a woman "honey," "darling," or "cupcake" is something that you simply shouldn't do.
Long-time listeners are aware of GamerDude's love of travel. In this week's episode, he talks about how travel used to be when he was growing up, and how things that used to the norm simply no longer exist. He talks about the difference between hotels and motels, and how he used to stay in little mom-and-pop motels, both as a kid and as a broke, hungry college student. He talks about his first "continental breakfast" at the Bald Eagle Motel and how exciting it was to get "free food," even if it was just a Danish and coffee. GamerDude also talks about the things that used to be common place in motels that no longer exist. He talks about room keys, and key fobs, and the key cubbie behind the desk clerk. He remembers the guest register, and carrying pockets full of change for the pay phone. He also remembers the "magic fingers" that some motels had for the beds. GamerDude also talks about other fixtures of travel that we no longer have, do, or need to do. He remembers getting road maps for the destinations you were heading to, and purchasing postcards for friends when you got there. He remembers taking his "friends and family" list on vacation, both for sending postcards and "just in case." And he remembers trying to figure out how much film to buy for the camera, and because pictures were limited by how much film you had, trying to decide what was "picture worthy" on a trip.
GamerDude talks about the very simple issue that first sparked his interest in "political activism." In his middle school, he witnessed how the students, who were interested in change, were able to effect a modification of the dress code to allow the boys to wear jeans and the girls to wear pants to school. He talks about how the archaic dress code was part of the mind-set of making sure "girls acted like girls." He also discusses other laws that were in place in the 1960s and 1970s that were also designed to "keep women in their place," from banks denying single women credit cards to women being ineligible to serve on juries. GamerDude also talks about race, and how he became aware of racial prejudice. It wasn't until he left his hometown and discovered that people not only had differing views about race, but treated people differently because of their race. He talks about the history of racism in this country, and how racism has been baked into society by the way laws were passed and enforced after the Civil War. He discusses how the concept of "separate but equal" came into play, and how that concept is actually the antithesis of equality. He talks about the passage of the Civil Right Act, and how the Constitution - despite the fact that it was written by a bunch of old white guys - was intended to apply to every person in the United States. He also discusses how equality for all should be the basic premise for all of the laws in the United States, and failure to understand that is nothing more than a failure to understand what the US is supposed to be about.
We, and our families, all collect "stuff" over the years. From Grandma's vintage wedding dress, to Uncle Joe's favorite couch, to Aunt Selma's Hummel collection, to your collection of vintage Beanie Babies, we all have "stuff" that we accumulate. Eventually, we all have to come to terms with what to do with that stuff. This week, GamerDude talks about having to deal with the stuff his parents accumulated over the years before they died, and how he went through and got rid of most of it, but how some of it is still stuff he finds difficult to part with. He talks about the mentality of "holding onto things because you never know when you'll need it" that he was brought up with, and talks about the "depression ere mentality" that his parents instilled in him - at least to some extent. GamerDude also talks about some of the specific collectible things that people accumulate over the years. He talks about "big furniture," like the old couch, dining room set, or china cabinet. He also talks about the collectibles, like souvenier spoons, and thimbles, and shot glasses, as well as things like cookie jars and salt-and-pepper shakers. He also mentions Hummels, and Beanie Babies, and Precious Moments figurines, and talks about how it's okay to get rid of things that you don't want, or need, or have any use for. He closes by talking about preserving collections of more personal things, like your grandparents' love letters, as a permanent reminder of where you came from.
In this week's "Best of" episode, GamerDude goes back to Season One and brings back stories about summer vacation time. He talks about how, when he was growing up, family vacations focused on what Dad wanted, not how to entertain the kids. He talks about the family's first trips to Chincoteague, Virginia, and what a "beach day" was for his family. He also brings back the story about the joys of summer as a kid, and his travels by bike to Hacklebarney State Park. And, he talks about back-to-school shopping for a lunch box!
This musical episode features some of GamerDude's favorite songs from the 1970s. He talks about how not all music from the 70s was disco, or hard rock. He discusses the "adult contemprorary/folk rock/easy listening" genre that developed, and why (in his opinion) it came to exist at all. He talks about the singer-songwriters of the era, whose songs had memorable messages, and staying power beyond the few months the songs were "on the charts." GamerDude also plays some selections from some of his favorite and most memorable songs of the era, in the familiar "Name That Tune" format he's used in other musical episodes. No spoilers here; you'll have to listen to the episode to hear who's on it. But fans of "adult contemporary" and "folk rock" songs will likely recognize all of the songs on the list, and it will open up new musical horizons to those who haven't heard them before. *Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. No copyright infringement intended. ALL RIGHTS BELONG TO THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS*
As GamerDude points out in this episode, growing older is inevitable but how you "grow up" is completely up to you. Relying on Jimmy Buffett's philosophy, GamerDude talks about the choice we all have in our attitudes about growing older and about choosing between keeping youthful attitudes as we grow older or becoming the "get off my lawn guy." GamerDude talks about when he realized that growing older changes your outlook on life, and your physical abilities, but doesn't have to change the way you feel about yourself. He talks about playing in an adult basketball league in his late thirties, and how he realized that there was a difference between "young adults" and "adults." He talks about how dealing with that realization has a direct impact on how happy you will be with your life. He also talks about things that he has learned from growing older, and the freedom you get when you understand that growing older frees you to make choices that are good for you. He talks about coming to the understanding that it's important to make choices, and surround yourself with people, that are good for you, and that make you happy. He talks about making the most out of your life with the people who mean the most to you. He also talks about the importance of taking pictures of your every day life so that, down the road, you remember the little things that were important to you then, and remind you of where you've come from. *Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. No copyright infringement intended. ALL RIGHTS BELONG TO THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS*