The World Has Changed

I grew up in Detroit. I was about 3 when my family moved there. In a nice little neighborhood filled with working class people just as my family was. Many were immigrants that had come to America for a piece of the American Dream. The streets were filled with different sized houses that were neatly kept and the neighborhood itself had a feeling of being safe. People walked to the store to get their groceries. There was a small business district a few blocks away that had drug stores, furniture stores and 5 & 10 cent stores. I can remember as a youngster, saving my money to go buy comic books from the local drug store. They were about 12 cents apiece then.

Every Christmas my mother would take my sister and I downtown to see all the Christmas decorations. She'd also take us to a store called Hudson's to see the toy display there. They would also decorate one whole floor (the building was 14 stories tall) for Christmas with animated elves and such. We would wind our way through the display until the end, where we would get to see Santa himself. Such sweet memories.

Fast forward to the present. Even when I went to visit my mom in the old neighborhood, almost no one walks to the store now. Hardly anyone can be seen walking anywhere there. The houses aren't as neatly kept. There is a resurgence in the neighborhood though. New immigrants are making a home for themselves and going for the dream.

Where I live now, sidewalks are a thing of the past for areas. For that matter, they are in most new areas. Stores are farther to get to also. Gone is the friendly neighborhood drug store. Every one seems to drive to get to where ever they need to go. I know this is a necessity as most places don't even have a way to walk there now.

I've grown up also. I too drive pretty much everywhere I go. I do miss the walking to the neighborhood drugstores though. And the 5 and 10 cent stores. I'm still a kid at heart though. Just ask Skittles.

This was just something I have been thinking about the last couple of days. Going out shopping and such. I like going shopping, but the people just don't seem as friendly as they did when I was younger. Too many people treat parking lots as raceways. Everyone seems to be in a hurry to get to where they are going. I really couldn't wait to get home from shopping Saturday. The hustle and bustle of crowded city life just isn't for me anymore. Maybe it's because I have endured it for so long and just recently seen a slower way and easier lifestyle.

I used to dream about living in West Virginia. That dream still exists, but the job market there just isn't good. I'll have to see about that when I retire. But, during our vacation last summer, I got a chance to see more of our beautiful country than I ever had before. I think now I would like to live in Wyoming. Plenty of open spaces. Things there might not be convenient in the ways they are where I live now. but, the lack of crowded areas seems to call to me. The scenery isn't bad either.

So, just thought I'd pass on my little bits of thinking to you. As Christmas nears, I ask that you take time to think about things. You don't have to delve into deep thoughts, just think about things is all. It helps me sort out things that are going on in my life. It might help you also.
Till next time BYE!!