Remembering 1978

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We’re watching a show called ‘Candy’ with Jessica Biel and the actress who played Rose on ‘Two And A Half Men’ - who is great in everything she does.

The show takes place in 1978 and shows a couple of marriages and men’s jobs from back in those days.

I couldn’t help but think of the massive cultural and technical differences.

The first episode shows a struggle of a traveling husband trying to get ahold of his wife as he’s out of town.

That’s an absolutely amazing difference, right?

Back then, there was a whole lot of time spent away from one’s spouse and every little thing or thought wasn’t shared.

“How was your day?” Was an essential question back then.

Now?

“I texted that to you!”

The women in the show are the main caretakers of the kids and the house. The husband kind of hung around the living room and waited to be served.

I don’t think those were the good old days for the wives.

There was an episode where the entire family played board games.

There was a set of lawn darts in the front lawn.

The kids in the show played with other kids and had sleepovers.

They bring up old shows and play songs from back in those days.

‘Columbo’ was great - but man, there are a million great series now.

Springsteen came out with ‘Darkness on the Edge of Town’ in ‘78, but ‘Western Stars’ 40+ years later is excellent too!

Now, my life has spanned both ways of living life, and I think a lot of the living back then runs a risk of being romanticized by those of us who grew up during that time.

I loved playing outside with my friends and I spend moments day dreaming of not being tied to my cell phone, but life wasn’t a million times better back in those days.

Men and women did the same sort of selfish, goofy things back then.

The Stones wrote a song called ‘Mother’s Little Helper’ about women who stayed home and took Valium to stay in control.

I’m sure the days of doing laundry, cleaning the house and taking care of the kids wasn’t that exciting every day.

There was alcohol abuse, drug abuse, spousal fights, cheating on each other….

…all sorts of foolish behavior.

I bring it all up because every now and again someone will post on Facebook about how people have lost their way because back then everyone lived a life of wholesomeness in fear of God, and that we all prayed and there was no such thing as divorce or gay people and people didn’t just live on their phones.

In reality, it wasn’t all that beautiful every day.

Humans are humans and the times change but there has always been and there always will be infidelity, selfishness, violence, substance abuse and on and on and on.

1978 was a fine time to be alive.

(The Yankees won the World Series)

2022 is different:

Better in some ways.

Worse in others.

The fundamentals remain the same.

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