By John Matonich
It is quite common to hear folks speak of the “Good old days.” I can relate on a number of levels that times years ago were simpler and maybe a little better, but I don’t think that’s the case for everything.
I was thinking about it the other day as I was driving to my woodshop and saw a gentleman walking on the side of the road with a bag in his hand. I knew what he was doing and waved at him. He was looking for deposit bottles and cans. The side of the road had recently been mowed and it made it easier for him to spot his prey.
It wasn’t that many years ago before we had a deposit law when it wasn’t uncommon to see a river of these containers on the side of the road. Springtime after the snow melt was not a pretty sight along most of our roadways. Much of this has been corrected by adding the deposit, but there are still a few folks who have enough coin, they don’t worry about the deposit and still toss their empties out the window. There still is plenty of waste to be picked up roadside, but this law certainly helps.
Another change for the good in my humble opinion is how society handles smoking today. Before I get blasted by smokers, let me tell you that I am a smoker. I have smoked a pipe for over 40 years. Never have been a cigarette smoker, but carry my pipe with me a lot and enjoy it when the time and place is right.
When I was younger and going to a lot of city council meetings, it was a usual practice for the council table to be full of ashtrays and smoking during a council meeting was the norm including the audience. I can’t even imagine that happening today and I am glad for it.
I was watching a DVD my bride gave me as a present the other evening and I couldn’t help but shake my head. The DVD was of an old TV series with Dean Martin. It was a weekly show was the honored (roasted) a celebrity. I remember watching the show while I was growing up, but didn’t remember how much everyone on the dais smoked. Watching it today, I was shocked to see 90 percent of the folks at the head table light up multiple times during the show.
I remember Johnny Carson smoking on his show, but was surprised to see folks like Bob Newhart smoking on Dean’s show. Jack Benny was smoking a cigar, Lucille Ball was puffing away and it wasn’t unusual for Dean to carry his cigarette up to the podium and puff away while introducing the next roaster.
Watching this show in my youth, I know I never thought twice about these actions on that series, but today I couldn’t help but cringe every time I saw one of the beloved celebrities take a puff. This tells me that our society can and has evolved away from actions that truly aren’t good for society. Maybe these aren’t the “Good Ole Days”, but I think they aren’t too bad either.
And that’s the situation as I survey it …
After a 35-year career downstate livin’ amongst da trolls, during which he built a successful engineering and surveying business, John Matonich is back home in da U.P. His column will appear here occasionally, don’tcha know. His book “Surveyin’ Da Situation” is available on Amazon.com.
Always love to hear from you John. Hope all is well in your corner of the UP.
So far…. so great 👍
So far so great 😊
Good column John. It is interesting to know what led many of us to take up the habit.
For me, it was being around smokers. I dabbled in the ninth grade, but my dad smoked Pall Mall and Camels, so that’s what was available for me to sneak. That was a rough start I didn’t smoke again till I was working in an office with a number of smokers. It’s funny that I started with the same brand most of them smoked: Kent
I quit cold turkey after 18 years of smoking, and of course I regret those 18 years. A word of wisdom to the young smokers out there: Smoking is like any addiction, If you want to smoke 3 or 4
cigarettes at a party tonight, caution! You could be buying a pack of cigarettes tomorrow, at a whopping $6 to $7. Generally, no matter what our habits are, they are going to be offensive to someone.
I agree with you very much. I took up a pipe in college. I enjoy it but not when I am in a spot that could offend. Never smoked at home… usually when I am outdoors..
I am very thankful I never took up smoking. While probably half of my young, adult friends did take up smoking, I did not. Watching people struggle so mightily with quitting over the years really reinforced my thankfulness for being a non smoker. Many other areas in the world still have a significant smoking population. It is strange to see when I travel abroad.
You are on all counts… I don’t smoke my pipe much but still enjoy it… suppose I should quit but really have never thought about it as I don’t live to do it…
We are already making ‘Murica Great Again, as the EPA heads work to dismantle some of those pollution regulations that are hurting the bottom line of big businesses. I wouldn’t be surprised to see to a push to bring back smoking in government buildings and private establishments to help the tobacco companies out too. On top of that, the poor are at risk of losing their health coverage, that they are surely going to need in that environment. #Winning
Like you, I’m shocked when I see old movies where everyone is smoking. The Mad Men show on tv amazed me every week with their smoking. As a former 33 year smoker I can tell you I’m glad it has changed. It was so dirty and stinky. Hardest thing I ever did was to stop. It was torture but I’m glad I finally did it.
Glad you were able to quit.
About four years ago I was at the Atlanta airport connecting to another flight. I was surprised to see smoking rooms in the airport. In Arizona they already had no smoking laws in that state. Our niece was here visiting before our law went into effect. She said it sounded weird that when waiting to be seated at a restaurant they asked smoking or non smoking preference. Does sound weird now and that wasn’t that long ago.
I remember when we had smoking and no smoking sections. I also remember reading a commentary that said having a no smoking section in a restaurant is like having a no peeing section in a swimming pool …
That’s a good one for sure!
Your comment reminded me of a time back when there was smoking/no smoking sections at a restaurant.
We went as a family to the now closed Frank’s Tavern on Lake Ponemah in Fenton for dinner.
We were asked smoking/no smoking by the hostess, (who was also the owner), we said no smoking please.
We were taken to a table near the wall with a small “NO SMOKING” card sitting on the table.
Right next to us, not but two feet away, was a couple seated at their table puffing away on their cigarettes.
Right behind us and in front of us were people sitting eating and smoking.
I told the owner that she was in violation of state law for not providing adequate no smoking in her restaurant, she became livid and said that was her no smoking section, we never went back.