Obsolescent

The different mediums the music business use seem to become obsolescent faster than in any other industry. From 78 rpm records, to 45 rpm records, to 33 rpm records, to reel to reel tape machines, to 8 track tapes, to cassette tapes, and now, CD's, change is obviously a way of life. The only one of those I am too young to remember is 78 rpm records.

Two types of businesses that I frequented often have become practically obsolescent. The drive in movie theater, and the drive in restaurant. Many, many times I have gotten a burger and fries from the Dairy Kreme, which later became Johnny's Drive In. On a hot summer day, I used to get a frozen Milky Way and a mug of Root Beer from the K & N Drive In. Back in the day, life just didn't get no better! I cannot even guess at the number of times I went to the Sky-Vue Drive In theater. I saw many, many movies there, and ate many, many, bags of popcorn!

I love it when things become obsolete five years after they are the rage...muscle cars, for example. Forty years later, they are making a strong comeback. The new Camaro, Mustang, Challenger, and Charger look pretty neat back on the road. I hate it when key components, that I grew up with, are deemed obsolescent. I learned to drive in 1970. The high beam-low beam dimmer switch was mounted in the floorboard, where it was an easy reach for a foot that had nothing else to do. My first vehicle with the dimmer switch on the blinker lever was a 1988 Ford Bronco. It took a couple of years for my left hand to realize it had a new job, and for my foot to realize its job was taken away.

I read an article just last week that said Crocs were on their way out. Six short years after those shoes were the hit of the party, now they have become obsolescent. They have gone the way of Super Bell Bottom Levis, and Nehru Jackets.

Two items that I used a lot of, in my youth, were merthiolate, and mercurochrome. Now, for first aid, you either use neo-sporin, or poly-sporin. As I think about it, many first aid items, many facets of treatment, and many surgical procedures have become obsolescent.

A lot of things I have used, and a lot of places I have been, are now obsolescent. The good thing is, in most cases, they have been replaced with “new and improved.”

Electricity

This week's word is something we all take for granted. Our forefathers went to bed at dark, had no air conditioning, heated and cooked with a wood stove, and did not have an electric garage door to let their horse and buggy in.

Growing up with luxuries at my fingertips, I do not appreciate what the old timers went through, as I should. I am fifty-three years old and have always been able to reach in the freezer and get an ice cube, made with electricity. I think I was 8 when we got air conditioning. How wonderful it is to sleep cool, make coffee in the mornings, microwave our dinner, heat our bath water, all because of electricity!

Just think of the jobs we have today because of electricity. From the building and operating of powerhouses, to the linemen who string new lines and repair and replace old ones, to the utility companies, to the electricians in the field, who wire everything from homes to airports, to office buildings, to baseball stadiums, to the suppliers of electrical equipment.

I am proud to make my living as an electrician. If I ever get to the point where I take electricity for granted, then it will “get” me. I think being electrocuted would be a lousy way to go. Respect for what current can do to you is a must. Also a must is keeping your mind on the task at hand.

It is amazing to me that something unseen can bring so much goodness to our lives. Thomas Edison deserves our hearty thank you, and I bet even he would be in awe of how electricity has changed our lives.

Skiing

With this year's Fun Run about to happen, my thoughts have drifted to water skiing. I really cannot think of any one activity, well, recreational activity, that has brought more pleasure to me than water skiing.

I bought a run-about in 1977, and a whole new world opened up for me. Smooth water was now what I was in search of. Often, across the river was the only place to find slick water, so that is where we would head. Sometimes, the last hour of daylight, things would quieten down and the lake would get really still. Those were the moments that my buddies and I were in search of.

That little Mark Twain, with me at the helm, pulled an incredible feat one day. We pulled seven slalom skiers up and around the lake! Talk about exciting...other boats stopped and watched. When the guys and gals got back in the boat, everyone was talking nonstop. No one had ever been involved in anything like that, so we were all excited.

I have not owned a boat in over twenty-five years, but I have good memories of the times I had on Kentucky Lake. I bet the Chamber of Commerce's Fun Run will be a blast. I wish I was going to be in town next weekend.