Staying Power

It's amazing how deep my beach weekend took me in thought. This blog theme hit me at breakfast Sunday morning. If you think about it, there are alot of things that have survived over an extended period of time. In some cases it may be hundreds of years in other cases maybe 50 or so. Either way, considering how much doesn't last or stay in vogue, it's amazing that anything does. Cases in point, we were sitting at the table and I notice the aluminum creamer sitting on the table, along with the wavy, "glass" juice glass and the chrome-topped glass sugar pourer. All of these were around when I was a kid, well maybe not these exact items that were sitting on our table but reasonable facsimiles for sure. No changes to design or construction or materials in at least 50 years, probably longer.

My parents still have the exact same GE refrigerator from when I was little sitting out in their garage keeping lots of Shasta Raspberry Creme pop cold. That little ice box is really amazing and it's longevity is enough to encourage me buy GE forever.

The '57 Chevy, to name just one single "classic" car, is still the envy of every 60 year old guy whenever it drives by. I don't know what it is about it, maybe it just reminds them of their youth and carefree times.




What about the Radio Flyer red wagons, hula hoops, tops and yoyo's? All of which I had when I was in grade school in Tillamook, even multiples in some cases. I don't know that these toys have ever really been out of favor.

When it comes to media, how about 60's & 70's classic rock that is still enjoyed by the world? It cracks me up when each generation initially thinks they were the first one to discover it and then they hear an old person singing along and can't understand how they know the lyrics.

And what about Walt Disney? Those classic, amazing animated feature films will always be favorites of kids in certain age groups or if they're like me, they'll never grow out of them.

National Geographic and Life magazines have been around for a long, long time and the quality has never faltered on either one. Again, there is universal appeal, not just for "old" people.




Halloween costumes have certainly continued to hold a great deal of popularity. I'm not sure just how long ago they started but it had to have been at least the '40's when "Meet Me In St. Louis" was filmed because Tootie had the mustache, nose and eye glass mask.

Carnival rides were eagerly anticipated for an entire year each year by my sister and me. We would stand out by the road watching for the first signs of the ferris wheel being up (the fairgrounds were about a mile down the road from our house) and wouldn't give my parents a break until they took us out there. It was so exciting! They may not be quite as exciting to kids these days but they certainly are still around. You could even count Disneyland as a very expensive, fancy carnival.

When it comes to food, Nestles's Quick ("N-E-S-T-L-E-S, Nestles makes the very best...chawclut!" to quote Farfel), fresh-baked cookies and bread, freshly ground coffee, popcorn balls, caramel apples have all maintained their fame and favor. Look how long tea has been around.

Then there's barbecuing. That was all the rage when I was young, now it's assumed that everyone does it. Besides that's how everything tastes best.

So, anyway, you have to admit all of these things have lasted many years, with tea probably taking the prize at hundreds of years. It makes you appreciate them even more for their "staying power". Imagine if you had invented one of these, no, don't go there, your lack of royalties will be too depressing.