re: You know you are getting old when you remember....

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Yeah, I dated a girl from Paragould but all her family was from Kennett so I know the area well

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My dad was from Paragould, and mom grew up on a farm about halfway between there and Jonesboro. I was there 2 weeks ago whine my aunt passed away.

There used to be a little country store in the highway there. Every time we went to see family, my parents would stop and visit the owners. They would always give me an orange push-up, and a grape soda. I was in heaven.

At my grandmother's farm, I milked cows, gathered eggs, worked in the garden and shelled so many purple-hull peas I'm surprised my hands ever got rid of the stain!

Was that store in the thriving metropolis of Goobertown? We always snickered a bit when we rode through there.

Think Paragould is about 30 plus minutes from kennett going up 412.

Glad to know you're a country girl Semo.

That description rings familiar to a lot of us. Country stores and shelling peas ... orange creme push-ups and Fanta or Nehi grape soda.

Those were the days with candy jars on the counter and full service at the gas pumps.

Did you know any Yates in Paragould by chance? She would be in her late 50s by now.

Kennett is south of Sikeston--not exactly sure of the miles. Think Sikeston is about marker 66-67 on 55 and the kennett exit is south of there 10-15 miles I'm guessing.
About another 15 miles to kennett off 55, guessing again.

Playing outside and hearing a loud roaring when NASA was testing the Saturn 5 engines at Redstone Arsenal.

These being on your coke and beer cans:



Then separating the flat piece from the ring and using it to see how far you could shoot the ring.

eta - or getting pissed because the ring broke off and the flat part stayed in place.

You know, speaking of those, I had an odd flashback the other day when I saw this old actor who I vividly remembered doing a commercial for bic pens.

I remember when cans had no pull tabs, you either carried a can opener or you didn't open them ... soda and beer cans both.

Then bic came out with this commercial where these people were at a picnic and they had forgotten their can opener and he used his bic pen to open the can ... because the pen was that tough, it kept on writing afterwards. (John Cameron Swazy was doing the "Timex takes a licking and keeps on ticking" at the time.

:::::::::::: long pause to try to find it on youtube ::::::::::::

Couldn't find it ... but found an old Bic pen commercial that is along the same lines that I remember ... shooting the Bic out of a rifle. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRLCjrzG4q8

Now think about it ... this was long before Bic lighters. Back then everyone was still using either matches or zippos. Bic was known for their ballpoint pens which, honestly, had not been around that long. Fountain pens were the thing because they were more reliable.

I used a fountain pen to sign the bank note for my first car.