You Know You Are Old When

[WinterDeere]

In a way, yes it did come late. It's not easy to explain unless you lived through it!

Now that you mention it, I do remember an experience in the mid-1980's that was an example of the same, but much farther south than Virginia. We made a family trip down to Disney, and had to make two stops in the Carolina's, to pick up my sister from a church camp and visit a cousin who'd moved down there, along the way.

We stopped at a roadside stand for lunch one day along that trip, somewhere in South Carolina or Georgia, and even as a young teen I remember it felt like stepping back in time. Everything from the antique 1940's Coca Cola cooler full of long-neck glass bottles (NLA in PA by 1986), to the antique signage, to the prices ($0.39 for a totally loaded chili dog!) felt like a step back by 30 years, from that time.

But I also remember passing little shacks, basically a shed I'd be afraid to store my lawnmower in, that my father had explained were actually the homes of some of the poorer residents in Georgia. Poverty like I'd never seen up north.

My mother's best and oldest friend relocated from Philly to Fairfax Virginia, as her husband was an FBI agent. I always felt that was a very affluent area, nearly indistinguishable from any NJ/PA/NY suburb, other than the southern accents.

 

[garry1p]

YKYO when it's time to change your starter, you get the lawn chair, sit down and be prepared to be the gofer while your son or SIL climbs under the car because you just can't do it, no matter how bad you want to.

 

[airbiscuit]

YKYO when your kids no longer ask you for help when they move.

 

[BackRoad]

Remember when changing starters was a common occurance? I lost one 5 miles from home. Walked the rest of the way, got on my old 450 Honda and ran about 15 miles to the part store. Swapped the starter out, loaded the bike into the truck and went home.
That was the first time I rode in the snow, but unfortunately it wasn't the last.

I don't miss it a bit.

Back in '84, I was working in network operations for one of the big US airlines and scheduled to work Christmas day. There was 6 inches of fresh snow on the ground and it was cold enough that my truck wouldn't start...

But my old Honda 360 motorcycle did!

Back then, 90% of the airlines IT staff were no nonsense, ex-Airforce and there were no excuses accepted for missing your shift...first one went in your work file, on the second they closed out your work file.

 

[MossRoad]

Remember when changing starters was a common occurance? I lost one 5 miles from home. Walked the rest of the way, got on my old 450 Honda and ran about 15 miles to the part store. Swapped the starter out, loaded the bike into the truck and went home.
That was the first time I rode in the snow, but unfortunately it wasn't the last.

I don't miss it a bit.

I had several early 70s Novas. All had the straight six engines with plenty of room on the right side. I could change the starter from the top side. Just had to lean over the fender and reach under the starter. 15 minute job.