OLDIES - BUT, GOODIES?

Don't know about you but, at this time of year a lot of nostalgic e-mails arrive on my computer.

One, involving Bob Hope's military base tours, and the Hollywood stars and G.I.'s rendition of the song Silent Night at the end of their performance left this old guy with a few tears.

Perhaps it was because of my memories watching them on TV as a kid and my becomiong overwhelmed by the reminiscience.

There were other nostalgic e-mails in my in-box. They were selectively sent on to friends of mine who also tend to pass along this kind of message.

By not doing so, there is an inherent, assumption - possibly wrong -that the sentiment or message will be lost on others - perhaps even resented by some.

In truth, my purpose in exporting similar messages is to demonstrate an awareness to do so with no attempt to proselytize, evangelize or antagonize.

Sadly, many of the more evangelical messages received here are accompanied by warnings - some might say threats - that appear to come right out of The Old Testament.

Perhaps that is why my reading of the New Testament has always been a little more uplifting - and promising.

Some suggest that my failure to forward their messages will result in dire consequences.

Some make it clear that my actions in "breaking the so-called chain" will assure me and mine that the "blue bird of happiness" will most likely never visit our home.

Worse is the innuendo suggesting a possibility more befitting Johnny Carson - that the bluebird may instead opt to "fly up my nose"; perhaps the true meaning of "getting the bird."

And, these are from my friends?

People have strong passions about "old" versus "new".

Many of the nostalgia framed E-mails at this time of year received by those of us with more than a few rings running inside our trunk, are those that speak of "the simple life" of our youth.

For the most part, we are fortunately spared the dark descriptive examples of the contrast with today's modern "evil" life.

My previous blogs have described (perhaps in way too much detail) my affinity for the "oldies."

Unfortunately, along with so many of the "oldies" e-mails (which I most often find delightful) is the implication that there are one helluva lot of senior citizens out there who are definitely disenchanted with their fate in life. I'm not among them.

My curiosity is whether they've ever taken the time to talk to the young folks of today - and listen (and listen only) to the memories they are making.

It's true the kids of today are probably not enjoying chocolate cigarettes, nor sweet juice in miniature plastic containers, nor possibly even prizes in their cereal boxes.

Neither are they receiving the rewards of chasing the Valley Dairy milkman's truck down Sumner Ave on a hot summer day for the sole purpose of receiving the largesse of his ice.

No. Now, many of them go into the cupboard for their multi color and flavored choice M & M's, mix their own sweet juice at the kitchen sink, or put their plastic Steeler cups under the ice maker on the refrigerator's front door.

however, they're also not working as 6, 7, or 8 year olds in hot factories hoping for wages of one or two pennies a day - nor shivering in fear of living the rest of their lives in an iron lung.

So, is the message, "stop sending me the nostalgic stuff"?

No, not at all. Perhaps, it's just, "enjoy those memories that mean so much to us - share them where appropriate - but, look at both sides of the mirror - the one that makes images smaller - and the side that magnifies them."

Yep, that's today's "oldies" message from this corner.

It's probably nothing original but something I picked up from my Mother.

It came with her personal assurance to us kids, who were either experiencing much frustration or disappointment: "Tomorrow's Another Day."

She was right!