Boomers are a generation that got used to living in the modern world, but there are many things from their youth that they miss.
Back when we had no Internet and when life was much simpler, memories were made, and days felt more precious.
We lived a simpler life that was rich in time, memories, and connection. Here are some treasures Boomers miss terribly today.
1. Saturday Morning Cartoons
shutterstock
If you are a Boomer, you surely remember waking up on Saturday morning, having breakfast, and watching cartoons first thing after breakfast.
It was not rare to watch them while eating breakfast, too. Looney Tunes, Scooby Doo, and many other cartoons woke us up with their catchy jingles, and they were our introduction to the fun and carefree weekend ahead: no school, no homework, and all play.
If you had friends or cousins over, it was even more fun.
2. Phone Calls with Actual Human Interaction
shutterstock
Phones were rare, and a whole family had just one. It was usually in the hallway of your home, and you had to wait in line to use it. If you needed information or help from your friend, you would call and actually talk for several minutes, sometimes even longer.
A simple question would turn into a whole conversation, gossip, and even laughter. This was a true human interaction that meant the world. It was also very special if the friend on the other side of the line was not living close.
Also, not knowing who was calling your home was another fun part: was it your crush or your old boring aunt? It was a guessing game.
Now, texting has become much more popular, and we surely do miss waiting for our parents to finish their phone call so we can call our friends with excitement.
3. Record Stores and Browsing for Hours
shutterstock
If you loved music and you wanted to catch up with the newest tunes, you would go to record stores, and you would browse through different vinyl and cassettes for hours.
It was a fun hobby or after-school activity you could do with your friends or your crush. The joy of discovering a new artist or genre that you love and buying a new vinyl for your whole family to listen to was indescribable.
Today, we can find everything we are looking for just in one click, but where is the fun in that?
4. Drive-In Movie Theaters
shutterstock
Do you remember hot summer nights when you would get ready, put on your favorite outfit, and meet with friends to go to a drive-in movie theatre?
You would get popcorn, try to get the front seat, and look around to see if anyone familiar was near you. It was a magic moment when you would relax, forget about all your problems, and immerse yourself in the movie plot that took you to new worlds.
If it was a new movie, it meant you would come earlier to secure a good spot because you wanted to see everything and tell your friends about it tomorrow at school.
Today, Netflix and other streaming services save you the ‘trouble’ and you can watch everything you want in one click, from the coziness of your own home.
5. Homemade Everything
shutterstock
Back in the day, we rarely bought the things we needed; instead, we made them. For example, if you needed a Halloween costume, you would go to your mom or your grandma, and they would use their DIY knowledge and skill to make you a handmade one.
They would use old pieces of material, old T-shirts, and hats, and you would end up with the most original costume ever. Also, if you needed a birthday cake, your family would make you one.
Buying one was considered an insult. Your mom would make the tastiest cake and customize the flavor to your liking.
Today, we mostly buy all these things since we do not have time to make them, but we have to admit, things were much more magical when created with love.
6. Real Photo Albums (With Actual Photos)
shutterstock
You could not wait to come back from a holiday and go to a shop to get your photos developed. Then, you would get a real photo album and put all your photos inside (and probably write a small paragraph for each photo).
It was a fun activity for the whole family, and memories were forever preserved in those photo albums. And if you did not like how you turned out in your family photo? Who cares, it still went into the album.
There were no retakes, no Photoshop. Today, we save everything on our Clouds, and we rarely go back to look at all 2,000 photos we took during our vacations. Back then, you took 20 and they were gold-worthy.
7. Neighborhood Friendships That Didn’t Need a Group Chat
shutterstock
We did not need to make plans with our friends back in the day. We would simply go out, knock on our friends’ doors, and hope they were ready to go outside and play with us.
If they needed a minute, you would wait for them inside (and probably get a sack or juice from their mom). We did not care about schedules or what time it was; the only rule is that you had to go home as soon as it gets dark.
Also, our parents would hang out whenever it was sunny outside, and we would go on our bike rides even when it was cold.
8. Department Stores with Escalators and Magic
Back then, walking into Sears or JCPenney used to feel like entering a tiny city.
You would go in with your friends and get lost in all the magic department stores were offering. You could try on clothes, perfume, grab lunch, and many rode the escalator just for fun.
If someone’s mom worked there, you would definitely get a free candy or a pass to go try on clothes you would never buy.
The real fun began when you had to go holiday shopping with your family, and you knew you would get some amazing gifts for yourself.
You and your friends would get lost inside for hours and somehow find each other when it was time to go. Today, more and more people order things online, and department stores are not what they once were.
9. Paper Routes and After-School Jobs
shutterstock
Back in the day, children were expected to build independence outside of school. Delivering newspapers at dawn or working the soda fountain after class was not rare, and it was encouraged by society.
These jobs taught Boomers to be responsible, polite, how to save money, and how to be useful to society. You were expected to be on time and very punctual as well.
Even though these jobs were sometimes difficult, you felt important and like a grown-up, which helped build your character.
Also, some of these jobs required certain skills and helped Boomers realize what they are good at and which careers to pursue later in life.
10. The Simpler, Slower Pace of Life
shutterstock
Days felt longer back in the day because we lived more slowly. We did not rush anything, and every moment was appreciated. If you were eating, you would focus on your food and quality time with your family.
There were no dozens of distractions around you, and you did not hurry to go somewhere as soon as you woke up. Also, nobody expected you to be available all the time, and you would only answer your phone when you felt like it.
Bedtime was calmer, and you did not need ‘digital detox’ before bed; you naturally did it. Today, most people spend hours on their phones and computers, are available for work even after work hours, and fall asleep while looking at their phones.
Slower life meant peace, and we feel how privileged we were back then.
