Do You Remember?

Although it’s been over a month it seems like our beloved Michael Jackson is still on the minds of America and the world. Not a day goes by that something is not mentioned about him, his family, his talent, the dreaded Joe Jackson, etc. It seems like people just can’t get enough and I think it will be a loooong time before they will. It’s sad when you think about it but I believe if all of this “positive” attention had been poured on him when he was alive it probably could have prevented his death – you know it’s true that people just want to feel appreciated; we all do. You know the saying, “Give me my flowers while I am alive” and “People may forget what you’ve said or forget what you’ve done but they will never forget how you’ve made them feel.” Well on to my story…..When I think of the many MJ songs Remember the Time keeps creeping up into my psyche though it’s not one of my favorites; I’m an old school MJ fan from back in the Jackson 5 days, but I can give credit where credit is due. Recently while out and about this song kept popping up in my head. So travel with me down memory lane with this simple question, “Do you remember?”

Do you remember when customer service was really about making sure that the customer was satisfied? Do you remember when television had only a few channels and families watched wholesome TV shows? Do you remember when football in Buffalo had snow on the football field in the winter? Do you remember when football players played for the “love of the game” and not for the mega millions? Do you remember when a person gladly came out to “fill ‘er up” at a gas station and cleaned your windows while you waited? Do you remember when you could give your name, address and phone number and not worry about identity theft? Do you remember when people had heart and it really bothered them to do a person wrong? Do you remember when a child stayed in a child’s place and all it took was a look? Do you remember when children respected ALL adults? Do you remember when good old-fashioned soap and water did the trick? Do you remember when you could prick your finger and become blood relatives without the fear of HIV? Do you remember when sex was safe, or so we thought? Do you remember when a man opened the door for a woman because that’s how he was raised? Do you remember chicken and dumplings? Do you remember when going to the country, from Atlanta to Powder Springs took almost 2 hours? Do you remember when a man’s word was his bond? Do you remember that the homeless were just a few hobos living on the railroad tracks? Do you remember when songs were about how much I love you and not about what I want to do to you? Do you remember when we took care of our own and let grandmama, granddaddy, or our great grandparents stay with us because we could take care of them better than any nursing home? Do you remember when all stores were closed by 10:00 p.m.? Do you remember when church was CHURCH? Do you remember when you could shake your pastor’s hand EVERY Sunday? Do you remember when men were men and women were women? Do you remember when men looked like men and women looked like women? Do you remember when the teacher had permission to spank you? Do you remember when slips were worn with skirts and dresses? Do you remember when the whole family went to the drive-in movie? Do you remember when teeth were white simply because you brushed them? Do you remember when it was okay to drink & drive (or so it seemed)? Do you remember when it took a baby almost 6 months to roll over? Do you remember when cars were tuned up and spark plugs were replaced? Do you remember when computers were a “yeah, right” thing of the future? Do you remember when a fight only involved feet, hands and every now and then teeth? Do you remember when you could give a person a ride without fear of losing your life or your car? Do you remember when everybody had a 22 or 38 hid in the car or the house? Do you remember when a child knew NOT to mess with mama or daddy’s 22 or 38? Do you remember when Stevie Wonder’s braids were where his forehead ended? Do you remember when Black men would bend over backwards to please a Black woman? Do you remember when Black men TREATED Black women with respect? Do you remember when a date was JUST dinner and a movie? Do you remember when we truly respected our elderly? Do you remember when you pulled over to the store to use the pay phone? Do you remember when the person you worked for had respect for the person they worked with? Do you remember that all it took was knowing that mama or grandmama ‘don prayed about it? Do you remember…….? TGBTG

P.S."Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring - all of which have the potential to turn a life around" ~Leo Buscaglia

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