DAILY DIRT: When thinking back to those formative years, don’t forget about Peggy Lee

Daily Dirt for Friday, Nov. 15, 2024

I do miss those old transistor radios and the Monkees … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 1,113 of The Daily Dirt.

1. Attention, fellow boomers! For those of you who like to refer to the 1960s as your formative years, what kind of memories do any — or all — of the following stir?

• Slinkies: I knew a lot of kids who spent hours watching them “climb” down stairsteps. I’ll be honest, I remember being excited when my parents got me one of these, but after about 10 minutes I pulled a Peggy Lee and asked, “Is that all there is?”
• Transistor radios: Now these were the real deal, especially those pocket-sided models. I used to sneak mine to bed with me and fall asleep listening to the Cleveland Indians playing a game on the west coast. I never got past the third inning, but I felt like I had a pulled a fast one on my parents. The best part were the tiny ear plugs, which provided — as a wise man once said — a “soundtrack to life”.
• Color TVs: Remember when your family got its first such model? Not all shows were in the color, but the ones that were liked to brag about it. To this day, I remember the opening to the old ABC show blaring, “The FBI … in color!” 
• Lava lamps: Those things were downright hypnotic. Our neighbors had one, and I remember sitting and watching those different sizes take shape and mumbling, “Whoaaaaa …” In the end, however, they were kind of like slinkies and Peggy Lee eventually arrived.
• Twister: The game, not the weather catastrophe. This game was always a must to play for any self-respecting teenager and his girlfriend at a weekend party.
• The Monkees: If ever a TV show targeted a specific age group, this was it. I was in seventh grade when it debuted on Monday nights on NBC, and every Tuesday at school Micky, Davey, Peter and Mike were the topics of conversation.
• Pop Tarts and Tang: This was the breakfast of champions, no matter what day of the week it might be.
• Hula hoops: Another of those must-have items that after about 20 minutes wound up in the garage. Peggy Lee? Calling Peggy Lee …
• Saturday morning cartoons: I used to religiously get up early to watch these things until I discovered that sleeping in, especially on a Saturday, proved far more beneficial in the long run. (I did enjoy “Jonny Quest,” though … )
• Etch-A-Sketch: Interesting, but way too frustrating. Peggy Lee came calling in about 15 minutes.

2. Did you know (Part 187)

• That since chocolate comes from cocoa, which comes from a tree (which, technically, makes it a plant) … that chocolate would have to count as a salad. 
• That if you’re feeling down, just go for a run. You’ll quickly realize your physical health is far worse than your mental heath.
• That if you want to drive the younger generation absolutely crazy, just put them in a room with a rotary phone, an analog watch and a TV with knobs. Oh, and leave directions on how to those items written in cursive.
• That when you were younger and would drop something, it was easy just to bend over and pick it up — but once you reach a certain age and drop something you stare at it for a while, wondering if you actually need it.
• That most of our childhood punishments have become our goals as adults: Eating vegetables, staying home, taking a nap and going to bed early.

3. Did you ever consider that:

Rabbits jump and they live for about eight years.

Dogs run and they live for about 15 years.

Turtles do absolutely nothing and live for 150 years.

Jus’ sayin’ …

Steve Thought O’ The Day — Have you ever wondered how a funeral come can raise the price of a funeral service and blame it on the cost of … living.

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. He’s on pace to match the turtle’s lifespan.