Things I Miss

Things I Miss

Tom Paxton is fond of saying that it's OK to look back as long as you don't stare. I'm trying not to stare and actually am not much into nostalgia but there are a few things I miss.

I miss having a full head of dark wavy hair.

I miss lying in the hay up under the eaves of our barn listening to the rain on the metal roof.

I miss all the dogs and cats that have shared my life. I even miss the goldfish I inherited from a broken home.

I miss when I believed the president and trusted the government (that ended for me in 1968).

I miss being young and stupid and believing I was immortal.

I miss driving country roads very late on moon lit nights with the headlights turned off.

I miss when there were not lights everywhere and it was really dark at night and you could see the Milky Way any clear night.

I miss working in the hay field on a hot summer day and then going swimming in the creek.

I miss wanting to run everywhere.

I miss sitting on the lawn on a warm summer night and being able to identify every car that went by just from its head and tail lights.

I miss being able to stay up late and sleep till noon the next day.

I miss when I went to the gym to play games rather than for "fitness".

I miss fast cars on slow roads.

I miss a lot of musicians but no politicians.

I miss the USSR because "Russia" sounds somehow vulgar.

I miss new love and old friends.

I miss kids being free-range like the chickens are now.

I miss cars that sound like cars, not sewing machines.

I miss pickups that were trucks, not luxury barges.
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While I miss these things, mostly I say let the past lie. Many things are better today, I mean the beer and the ice cream are way better - enough to keep me looking forward. May you do the same.
 
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