I had a younger friend that told me about a predicament he encountered when he was stranded with a broken down vehicle and no cell phone. I asked “Couldn’t you find a pay phone?” I got a strange glance before he said “Pay phone? Do they still have those?” Even if he could’ve found a pay phone, he probably wouldn’t be able to use it. Nobody memorizes phone numbers anymore. They are all on the cell phone. I found myself telling stories about how I used to memorize phone numbers and use pay phones all the time. It was at that moment that I realized… I’M OLD!

I come from a different era. An era of pay phones on every corner, coin-op video games in every quickie mart, arcades, drinking fountains that have water running at all times, and cars with tape decks.  I still flip channels on the TV instead of using the program guide. I often start sentences with phrases like “Back in the day…” or “That used to be…”. Yep, It’s official. I’m old!